18. Tall Oregon Grape

We have two native species of Oregon Grape growing on the property, this one, Mahonia aquifolium and the Dull Oregon Grape (M. nervosa).  We grow a third species in the garden.  Tall Oregon Grape has shiny leaves that look as if they are wet- hence the latin name, with smaller numbers of leaflets on each leaf.  The leaves vary quite a bit from plant to plant in leaflet shape and in winter colour.  Some plants have leaves that turn a nice burnished burgandy colour, while most stay green.  Yellow flowers in early spring and blue berries in late summer make this a particularly attractive species.  This is one of our natives that is used extensively in horticulture.  I remember seeing large boulevard plantings of this when we visited Holland a few years ago.

---

A burgundy leaved form of Tall Oregon Grape.