Oregon Grape
Scientific Name:
Mahonia aquifolium
Type:
Shrub
Habitat:
Forest, high desert, riparian, etc.
Range:
Western North America
Status:
No listed status
This species is
NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
Oregon grapes are vertical shrubs that grow between 3 and 6 feet tall. These shrubs are green year round with 5 to 11 spiky edged leaflets. Oregon grapes produce blue or purple berries and have yellow flowers that form in clusters and bloom in April.
Fast Facts:
Oregon grape berries are edible and can be used in jellies or fermented to make wine.
Oregon grapes have many medicinal and other purposes, such as being used by indiegnous groups to make dyes.
Oregon grapes are readily cultivated as ornamental plants.
Sources:
USDA PLANTS Database, Mahonia aquifolium, 2021, https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MAAQ2
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Mahonia aquifolium, 2016, https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=maaq2
Image: Tom Brandt, https://www.flickr.com/photos/12567713@N00/8588546156, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, cropped from original.
Image: Tom Brandt, https://www.flickr.com/photos/12567713@N00/3673915746, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, cropped from original.
Contributor(s):
Max Whealon (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)