by Alice Marty
Berberis aquifolium, previously Mahonia aquifolium
Since it is the Oregon state flower, has bunches of small blue-black fruit and holly shaped leaves, it is easy to see where the common name for this plant came from. Oregon Grape Holly is an evergreen shrub that slowly reaches six feet tall. The stem is straight and cane-like with few branches, but the plant sometimes suckers and forms colonies. The bluish holly-like leaves can be very prickly.
A few hours of sun per day are needed for flowering, but it grows best in light shade. The full sun bleaches away the color on the leaves. Growing zones are 5-8.
Racemes of slightly fragrant, yellow flowers bloom in late winter on old wood. Blue-black clusters of berries follow in spring. The waxy fruit may cling until December if the mockingbirds do not find them.
Small groups in woodland gardens are a good fit for this plant. It is also frequently used as a foundation plant.
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