This story first appeared in the winter 2014 issue of Our Big Backyard magazine.
Oregon grape
Oregon’s official state flower, Mahonia aquifolium, goes way back. Collected by Lewis and Clark, it has long been used by Native Americans for its healing powers. It’s the namesake of Mahonia Hall – home to the state’s governor.
The tall Oregon grape, as it’s known, also finds a home at many of Metro’s natural areas. A favorite for restoration projects, it provides great wildlife habitat and grows in difficult conditions. It’s drought-resistant. And although it prefers full sun, it can tolerate partial shade.
In the right spot, tall Oregon grape can grow to 10 feet or more. But in native habitats, it is usually browsed back by deer or elk. Shiny green most of the year, it blooms in early spring; its bright spray of yellow flowers attracts pollinators such as hummingbirds and bumble bees. Over the summer a cluster of dark blue, and very bitter, berries develop. By fall they almost disappear, thanks to birds, deer and other wildlife.