Alternate name: Tall Oregon-grape, Hollyleaf Barberry
Family: Berberidaceae, Barberry view all from this family
Description Pinnately compound leaves with leathery, holly-like leaflets on stems ending in dense, branched clusters of small yellow flowers.
Flowers: About 1/2" (1.5 cm) wide; sepals 6, in 2 whorls; petals 6, in 2 whorls, slightly shorter than sepals; stamens 6, lying against petals, moving toward single style when touched; bracts 3, small, outside petals. Flowers March-June.
Leaves: 5-7 ovate, spiny-margined leaflets, each 1 1/4-3" (3-7.5 cm) long, shiny above.
Fruit: Chalky blue berry, about 1/4" (6 mm) wide.
Height: to 7' (2 m)
Habitat Semi-open lowland forests.
Range Western Canada south to California and Idaho; also in Great Lakes region, south to Kentucky and New Jersey.
Discussion This stout shrub is the state flower of Oregon. The berries of this and other Oregon-grape species are eaten by wildlife and make good jelly. Native Americans made a yellow dye from the bark and wood of this shrubby species. Several are used as ornamental garden plants; in the nursery trade some of them are known by the common name Mahonia.
