I googled it and this one said it prefers partial shade and to be cut back after flowering in winter. It doesn't mention branching. I don't have that Mahonia but my tall and native ones are all growing in partial to deep shade.

I just was trying to pick a location for Philadelphus 'Belle Etoile'. I decided on a place that has been all lawn, so now it will disrupt the mowing, so my DH probably will be unhappy. I hope it doesn't take too many years to bloom.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mahonia 'Charity'

I have never found it necessary to prune back Mahonia 'Charity'. It will produce stems from the base, similar to the way nandina grows, and really doesn't develop a clear branching system. You can remove the stems if they get leggy, but in 6 years mine has not. And I'd agree the shadier location is preferable.

Yes, 'Wissel's Saguaro' is a very cool plant and one of my favorite newer additions to my dwarf conifer collection.

Thank you both. I decided it was a perfect day to plant and actually planted all but one of the plants I brought home. I decided that the shadier spot was best for 'Charity' because I could see it so clearly from the house and that the many websites I looked at were slightly more on the shade side. Glad that I won't need to move it. Also glad to hear that the Mahonia will sprout separate stems from the base....it seems that the natives here tend to remain single stems. I realized after I got home that the large 'Charitys" (or would it be "Charities"???) I have seen always had another layer in front covering their "legs".
I moved a few plants around and made a perfect full sun place for the 'Wissel's Saguaro'. I think it deserves celebrity status! jwww

Leggy 'Charity' and bushy 'Winter Sun' were on the local market at the same time, some stock seemed to be mixed. Maybe the one plant has not become stemmy because it's actually 'Winter Sun'.

Bboy....I'm not sure what you are referring to. The 'Charity' I purchased is NOT leggy at this point. It IS a single stem with about 2.5' tall with a beautifully developed set of flowers. I have been reading about care on the internet and some of the things I read recommended cutting back to encourage a fuller plant. I had never heard of this with Mahonia, thought it was strange, but wondered if I was wrong and this was common practice. Any other thoughts about differentiating 'Winter Sun' and 'Charity'. jwww