# Oregon grape (*Berberis aquifolium*) Oregon grape is a lovely shrub with shiny leaves and bright yellow flowers. It grows berries that are blue and can be used to make jelly! This plant is great for gardens and helps attract butterflies. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Mahonia, Oregon grape holly ![Oregon grape](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mahonia_aquifolium.jpg&width=800) Photo: The original uploader was Meggar at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mahonia_aquifolium.jpg) ## Appearance The Oregon grape is an evergreen shrub with shiny, leathery leaves that resemble holly, often turning reddish-bronze in winter. It has bright yellow flowers that grow in clusters in spring, followed by dark blue, powdery berries in late summer. ## 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 barberry. - Indigenous peoples traditionally used its roots to create yellow dyes. - The plant's wood and roots have a surprising bright yellow color inside! - This plant can grow in sunny spots or deep shade, making it super adaptable! ## Special abilities - **Spiky Shield:** Oregon grape has tough, spiky leaves that help protect it from hungry animals wanting to nibble. - **Winter Glow:** Its evergreen leaves can turn beautiful reddish-bronze colors in cold weather, helping it adapt to winter. - **Berry Bonanza:** It produces tart, dark blue berries that attract birds, who then help spread its seeds to new places. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-300 cm - **Spread:** 100-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Eaten by:** [American robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats the tart blue berries - **Eaten by:** [mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves, especially in winter ## 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. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat the berries without asking an adult, as they can be sour! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify 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 Oregon grape? 60-300 cm ### How wide does Oregon grape spread? 100-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Oregon grape? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Oregon grape bloom? Spring ### Is Oregon grape edible? Yes ### Is Oregon grape toxic? Mild ### What is Oregon grape's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [City Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/city-park) — Colorado, US · Park - [Fairhaven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairhaven) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-tahoe-basin-management-unit) — Nevada, US · Forest - [Pioneer Square](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pioneer-square) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Bromley Rock Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bromley-rock-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Oregon grape](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/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: [Oregon grape: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oregon-grape)