Bloomipedia
Cascade oregon-grape (Berberis nervosa)
Photo: John Brew via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Cascade oregon-grape

Berberis nervosa

Cascade oregon-grape (Berberis nervosa) is a shrub in the Berberidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Cascade oregon-grape is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

5states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
16,188U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Oregon, Washington

Quick look

Berberis nervosa, commonly known as dwarf Oregon-grape, Cascade barberry, Cascade Oregon-grape, or dull Oregon-grape, is a North American flowering plant.

  • It belongs to the Berberidaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington and Oregon. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 10,279 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #5 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,842 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #26 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (558 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeApril–May10,279
OregonNativeApril–May4,842

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MT (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records cascade oregon-grape in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Idaho, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington.

Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Cascade oregon-grape a low shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -18 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
5.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-18 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
180
Annual precipitation range
30 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
16 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Blue · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MANE2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Odostemon nervosus.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 72 counties across 4 states; the most are in Washington (27), Oregon (25), California (16).

Other Berberis on Bloomipedia (6): Japanese barberry, Agarita, Creeping mahonia, Oregon grape, Leatherleaf mahonia, Fremont barberry.

More from the Berberidaceae family (12 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Mayapple, Heavenly bamboo, Twinleaf, White inside-out flower, Vanilla leaf, Early blue cohosh.

More Washington flowers

Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)

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Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

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Sources