NAME:  Oregon Grape

OTHER COMMON NAMES:  Hollyleaved Barberry / Oregon Grape Holly

SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Mahonia Aquifolium syn. Berberis Aquifolium

COLOR:  Yellow Flowers / Dark Blue Fruit

PLANT SEEDS:  Fall sow seeds or cold stratify

BLOOM TIME:  Flowers March - May

HARVEST:  Berries Late Summer - Early Winter

HARDINESS ZONE:  5 - 9

PLANT HEIGHT:  4 - 8'

PLANT SPACING:  4 - 6'

LIGHT REQUIREMENTS:  Sun - Part Shade - Shade

SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES:  Average

QUANTITY:  20 Seeds

OTHER:  Oregon Grape Holly is an evergreen shrub native to the western US & Canada. It is the state flower of Oregon. They are very ornamental & provide a huge benefit to wildlife. The plants are drought resistant, deer & rabbit resistant, & will tolerate poor or rocky soil.

The flowers bloom in large clusters in early spring before many other plants have even woken up. The fragrant bell-shaped flowers will attract bees, birds, & butterflies. The evergreen holly shaped leaves are green in the summer, & take on lovely bronze to red highlights in the fall. Hip florists everywhere are falling in love with these for cut arrangements!

In fall, the Oregon Grape has showy purplish-red berries that look like but are not really a grape. The berries are edible but tart, & are often made into jelly, juice, or wine. They are also used to make a purple dye. Song birds, game birds, & other woodland creatures like squirrels will love to eat the berries!