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Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)

Berberis aquifolium, or Oregon Grape, is an evergreen shrub native to western North America. Known for spiny, holly-like leaves, yellow spring flowers, and edible blue-bl

Above information is sourced from Wikipedia

Sunlight

Full sun to partial shade.

Watering

Moderate; drought-tolerant once established.

Soil

Well-drained, acidic to neutral.

Temperature

Very hardy, tolerates a wide range from -20°C to 30°C.

Habitat

Outdoor

Fertilizer

Low requirement; a light spring application is sufficient.

Care Requirements

Light

Full sun to partial shade.

Prefers some afternoon shade in hot climates.

Water

Moderate; drought-tolerant once established.

Establishment phase requires regular watering.

Soil

Well-drained, acidic to neutral.

Temperature

Very hardy, tolerates a wide range from -20°C to 30°C.

Prefers cool to moderate climates.

Habitat

Outdoor

Fertilizer

Low requirement; a light spring application is sufficient.

Compost can also provide nutrients.

Plant Overview

Plant Type

Shrub

Plant Category

Ornamental, Fruit, Medicinal

Plant Place Type

Ground, Garden, Groundcover

Plant Environment

Outdoor

Lifespan

Perennials

Plant Height

1-3 m

Spread

1-2 m

Growth Rate

Medium

Dormancy

Winter (reduced growth)

Leaf Color

Dark Green, Bronze, Red

Leaf Type

Pinnately compound, spiny

Flower Size

0.5 cm

Optimal Sunlight Lux

60000

Image Gallery

Synonyms
Berberis brevipes Greene
Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.
Mahonia brevipes (Greene) Rehder
Mahonia diversifolia Sweet
Mahonia latifolia Dippel
Mahonia moseri Ahrendt
Mahonia moseriana Moser ex Martinet
Mahonia murrayana Dippel
Mahonia undulata Ahrendt
Odostemon aquifolius (Pursh) Rydb.
Odostemon brevipes (Greene) A.Heller
Odostemon nutkanus (DC.) Rydb.
Taxonomy
  • kingdomPlantae
  • divisionTracheophyta
  • classMagnoliopsida
  • orderRanunculales
  • familyBerberidaceae
  • genusBerberis
  • speciesBerberis aquifolium
Toxicity

Toxic for humans

Yes

Rating: 2/5

Toxic for pets

Yes

Rating: 4/5

Edible

Yes

All parts of the plant, except the ripe berries, contain alkaloids like berberine, which can cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested. Ripe berries are edible.

Additional Care Tips

FAQs