This 12′ Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ grows in an upright ‘vee’ shape. It has smallish evergreen leaves, its tendency to retain leaves for several years, creates a densely leafed structure that creates a lot of surface area for snow and ice to stick to. This plant did spread and open up from the load, but the toughness of the wood prevented it from breaking. Any kind of of canopy would help by intercepting ice and snow.