Scientific Family
Berberidaceae
Synonyms
Berberis repens
Other common names
Oregon grape
creeping mahonia
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Coarse-textured, creeping to ascending, woody-stemmed ground cover, stoloniferous stems root when in contact with soil. Good for erosion control.
Stems above ground less than 6 inches long; leaflets, holly-like with more than 10 teeth. Flower clusters elongated, many-flowered, dense; berries ovoid or ellipsoid.
Height
To 8 inches
Width
1 foot
Habitat
Habitat description
Found in shady areas in ponderosa pine and spruce-fir forests.
Plant Community
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
8500
Leaves
Leaf color
Dark Green
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
Yes
Leaf Drop
Evergreen
Dark green, shiny, leathery, holly-like to 10 inches long, pinnately compound, 3 to 7 wavy leaflets with spiny margins; leaflets to 3 inches long; leaves turn shades of red, yellow or purple in the fall.
Flowers
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
June
Fragrant to 3/4 inch wide with 6 yellow petals in dense cluster.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Bluish-purple
Fruit type
Berry-like
Clusters of 1/4 inch berries.