Berberis aquifolium
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Mahonia aquifolium
- Phonetic Spelling
- BER-ber-is awk-wih-FOH-lee-um
- Description
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'Oregon Grape holly' is an evergreen, medium shrub that grows up to 6 feet tall, and is upright and scarcely branching. Drought tolerant, this slow-growing plant has a tiering habit and cane-like growth with tendency to sucker and form colonies. It grows best in light shade, as color will bleach out if grown in full sun; it does require a few hours of sun per day to flower. It also dislikes summer heat.
Two to three inch racemes of yellow flowers in early spring are mildly fragrant and showy, with an abundant amount of raisin-sized blue-black berries in summer that crown the branches with rows of waxy, bluish fruit that may persist through December.
The leaves are glossy and shiny like a holly. They turn purplish-bronze in the winter. The fruits are dark blue/purple and form in clusters like grapes, but this shrub is neither a grape nor a holly. This plant is the state flower of Oregon, hence its common name. It is a member of the barberry family Berberidaceae. Some consider it one of the best garden shrubs for eastern gardens, and is from the Lewis and Clark Expedition collection. It is best planted in small groups in shade or woodland gardens. It also does well as a specimen or in foundation or shrub borders. It does not like highly alkaline soils and will become chlorotic in high pH soils and desiccating winds. This plant has known pest problems. The shrub can be pruned to size, but keep in mind that next season's blossoms and fruit will appear on old growth.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Leaf spots, rust, and leaf scorch from sun/wind. Chlorosis on high pH soils; leaves can look burned but stems will regrow leaves next spring.
Quick ID Hints:
- Odd pinnately compound, coriaceous leaves
- Holly-like leaflets with up to 12 spines per side
- Evergreen medium shrub with tiering habit
- Terminal, bright yellow flowers in early spring
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Relaxed Foundation Planting
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Compactum'
Reaches only 3'; bronze leaves in winter - 'King's Ransom'
Hybrid, upright grower 5' blue-green foliage, bronze/purple in winter - 'Mayhan Strain'
Dwarf, glossy leaves
'Orange Flame'
- 'Repens'
Ground cover - 'Smaragd' or 'Emerald'
4' tall, lustrous deep green leaves, bronze/purple in winter.
Copper-orange new leaves - 'Compactum'
- 'Compactum', 'King's Ransom', 'Mayhan Strain', 'Orange Flame', 'Repens', 'Smaragd' or 'Emerald'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Compactum'
Reaches only 3'; bronze leaves in winter - 'King's Ransom'
Hybrid, upright grower 5' blue-green foliage, bronze/purple in winter - 'Mayhan Strain'
Dwarf, glossy leaves
'Orange Flame'
- 'Repens'
Ground cover - 'Smaragd' or 'Emerald'
4' tall, lustrous deep green leaves, bronze/purple in winter.
Copper-orange new leaves - 'Compactum'
- 'Compactum', 'King's Ransom', 'Mayhan Strain', 'Orange Flame', 'Repens', 'Smaragd' or 'Emerald'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Berberis
- Species:
- aquifolium
- Family:
- Berberidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Berries make jelly, wine or purple dye; inner bark is used as a yellow dye.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South West Canada to Northern California
- Distribution:
- Northern North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to fruits.
- Edibility:
- Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Deep dusty blue/black edible globose berries in clusters give excellent fall interest. They are less than an inch in size.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are bright yellow and weakly foetid. They are 2.5" in size and are mildly fragrant. Inflorescence is in short, crowded terminal racemes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate and odd pinnately compound. Leaflets (5-13) are sessile and coriaceous. Terminal leaflets are larger than laterals. Leaflets have spine-tipped teeth (up to 12 teeth per side), bases sometimes overlap, they are rigid and olive-green in color. Petiole encircles stem. New leaves red-tinted turn glossy dark green.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- gray-brown color, not of ornamental importance
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are roundish, stout, and become gray-brown as they mature. They have an inner yellow bark with a thickened corky appearance. They are thick and branch infrequently.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Security
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns