Mahonia aquifolium Pursh
tall Oregon-grape (hollyleaved barberry)
Berberidaceae (Barberry family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
tall Oregon-grape (hollyleaved barberry)
Berberidaceae (Barberry family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Evergreen shrub from a rhizome; stems branched, stoloniferous to stiffly erect, 0.5-2.5 (4.5) m tall; bark and wood yellowish.
Leaves:
Evergreen, hollylike, alternate, pinnate; leaflets usually 5-11, pinnately nerved, more than twice as long as broad, mostly with 12-29 prominent spiny teeth, shiny above but less so beneath.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of clustered racemes 3-8 cm long; flowers yellow, the segments in 6's.
Fruits:
Clustered berries 7-14 mm in diameter, blue, glaucous, with a few large seeds, edible.
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Yellow
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Blue
Present over the Summer
Source: The USDA
Habitat and Range
Mesic to dry open or closed forests in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common in S BC; E to AB and S to ID and OR.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Berberis aquifolium Pursh
Berberis aquifolium var. aquifolium
Berberis piperiana (Abrams) McMinn
Mahonia piperiana Abrams
Odostemon aquifolium (Pursh) Rydb.