Mission Statement: To promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington's native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy.
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Plant Profile: Tall Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
Editor's Note: Berries seem particularly abundant this year, including those of Tall Oregon Grape. This is a piece Cynthia Spurgeon wrote for WNPS a few years ago, which appeared in the Seattle Times. People have been debating for years whether the genus should be Mahonia, or Berberis. At this moment the accepted name is Mahonia, according to the Washington Flora Checklist.
Why Choose It?
Tall Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium), the state flower of Oregon, has just about everything going for it as a garden plant. It starts out in spring with copper colored new growth, turns shiny green in summer and then the whole plant turns an attractive bronze-purple color for fall and winter. And did I mention the golden yellow flowers and the dusty blue berries?
In the Garden
Its upright habit makes Tall Oregon Grape perfect for formal hedges, and the fact that it is evergreen makes it a natural for barriers and screens. It also has a place in informal plantings where it shines on its own, or in woodland plantings with other Northwest natives.
The Facts
Tall Oregon Grape grows to about 6 feet tall, and about 3 feet wide. Its glossy, green, holly-like leaves emerge coppery in the spring, contrasting nicely with the golden yellow, scented flowers that are clustered at the top of the stems. The frosted blue "grapes" (actually berries), follow in summer. Tall Oregon Grape is not fussy, and will grow in sun or shade. Pruning is easy: simply cut back old or damaged stems all the way to the ground.
Where to See It
Look for it in open woods, mostly west of the Cascades, from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California.
And in additionIf you want to attract birds to your garden, this is the plant that will do it. Robins, waxwings, juncos, and towhees, among others, find the berries irresistible. You can eat them too—they make a nice jelly. Or, you can make a nice, bright yellow dye from the shredded bark. Truly an all-purpose plant.
