Both the bark and the berries are used medicinally by Native Americans, and modern medicine uses it as a fairly potent medicine against parasites, bacteria, and viruses. The holly-like leaves are often used in floral arrangements.Īn alkaloid called berberine colors the inner bark yellow, and the shredded bark has long been used to make a yellow dye. Brilliant yellow flowers in spring are followed by deep blue berries in fall. Spiny foliage emerges with bronze-red coloring, turns green as it matures, and develops a purple-red coloring in the winter. The berries are edible but quite tart and are better used for jelly. Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium SKU 06070 An excellent, easy-care, evergreen shrub for mass planting as a screen or as a single colorful accent. They are palmately veined, with three long veins originating from the base, and with strongly toothed edges.Ĭlusters of small yellow flowers extend up from the center of a rosette of leaves in spring, replaced by purple berries after their pollination by bees and other insects.

The leaves are evergreen, pinnately compound with 9-19 leaflets, and are only slightly shiny, unlike other species of Oregon-grape. The leaves sprout from low-growing stems, the clusters of leaves not reaching a meter in height. Although it grows in forests, it is a sun-lover like other Oregon-grapes and thus does better where the trees allow some sunshine to reach the forest floor. They brought back many new species from their expedition, and this one was described to science in 1813 by Frederick T. Growing only two feet tall, its pale-yellow flower clusters. It was sufficiently common that Lewis and Clark collected it on their 1805 visit to the Lower Columbia River. Cascade Oregon Grape (Mahonia nervosa) has a place in any Pacific Northwest woodland garden. Water regularly to maintain evenly moist soil - weekly, or more often.Dull Oregon-grape, also called Cascade Barberry, is one of the most common understory plants in Pacific Northwest forests. Mahonia aquifolium, the Oregon grape or holly-leaved barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to western North America.

Ideal for unique form and texture in shaded condo or town-house patio gardens.īorder, Mass Planting, Woodland Garden, Naturalized AreasĮasy Care, North American Native Selection, Compact Form, Multi-Season Interest An evergreen shrub (Mahonia aquifolium) native to the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada, having broadly. It possesses unique antimicrobial activity and will be increasingly important in our post-antibiotic. Plant near rocks or dry streambeds in wild gardens or add a clump to edge plants near water gardens for an interesting foliage variation. Oregon grape has a place in every herbalists apothecary. Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) Description: Outside its native range, has the ability to displace native vegetation.

Use as a small hedge or edging material to cover the underpinnings of decks and steps. Useful in smaller city gardens, where its dense evergreen foliage covers the exposed legs of taller plants. Some of the leaves of Berberis aquifolium turn red or purple in. This smaller version of Oregon Grape is more versatile as a shrub.