E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Berberis aquifolium
tall Oregon-grape
Berberidaceae (Barberry family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Brian Klinkenberg  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #19779)

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Distribution of Berberis aquifolium
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Species Information

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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.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / 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.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References