# Cascade Oregon-grape (*Berberis nervosa*) The Cascade Oregon-grape is a small shrub with shiny green leaves and bright yellow flowers. It produces blue berries that are loved by birds and can be used to make jelly! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Cascade Oregon-grape](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mahonia_nervosa_5003.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mahonia_nervosa_5003.JPG) ## Appearance The Cascade Oregon-grape has tough, spiny, evergreen leaves that are shiny dark green and resemble holly. Its bright yellow flowers grow in upright clusters, turning into powdery blue, grape-like berries in late summer. In fall, its leaves can take on purplish-red hues. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Berberidaceae - **Genus:** Mahonia ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, Oregon-grape isn't a true grape; it's related to barberries! - Indigenous peoples historically used parts of this plant for traditional medicines. - Its stiff, spiky leaves make a great hiding spot and shelter for small forest creatures. - The plant's roots and inner bark can be used to make a yellow dye for fabrics! ## Special abilities - **Year-Round Greenery:** Cascade Oregon-grape has thick, waxy, evergreen leaves that help it stay green and make food all year, even in winter! - **Tart Berry Shield:** Its tart berries are a tasty treat for birds and other animals, helping spread its seeds widely across the forest floor. - **Tough Roots:** This plant has a strong root system that helps it find water and nutrients, even in dry or poor soils. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-120 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late winter to early spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats berries, spreading seeds - **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — forages for berries in late summer - **Pollinates:** Western Bumble Bee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — attracts with bright yellow early spring flowers - **Shelter:** [Northern Alligator Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-alligator-lizard) (*Elgaria coerulea*) — hides amongst its dense, spiky leaves ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before picking any berries or plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cascade Oregon-grape? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Cascade Oregon-grape? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Cascade Oregon-grape spread? 30-120 cm ### How big are the flowers on Cascade Oregon-grape? 0.5-0.8 cm ### When does Cascade Oregon-grape bloom? Late winter to early spring ### Is Cascade Oregon-grape edible? Yes ### Is Cascade Oregon-grape toxic? None ### What is Cascade Oregon-grape's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Englishman River Falls Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/englishman-river-falls-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Ross Lake National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ross-lake-national-recreation-area) — Washington, US · National Park - [Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dunsmuir-botanical-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Hoyt Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hoyt-arboretum) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Leach Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leach-botanical-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Cascade Oregon-grape](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cascade-oregon-grape) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cascade Oregon-grape: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cascade-oregon-grape)