Bloomipedia
Creeping mahonia (Berberis repens)
Photo: tlaloc27 via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Creeping mahonia

Berberis repens

Creeping mahonia (Berberis repens) is a shrub in the Berberidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Creeping mahonia is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–June.

19states where USDA records it
7Bloomipedia state lists include it
19,695U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Berberis repens commonly known as creeping mahonia, creeping grape holly, or creeping barberry, is a species of Berberis native to most of the western United States and two western provinces of Canada. It is low growing shrub that spreads by underground stems. As a species it is well adapted to fire and is a very common understory plant in western forests.

  • 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 19 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. iNaturalist
  • In Utah, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–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 7,190 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #7 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,362 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #3 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,104 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #5 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,143 records)
Bloom time in the 7 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeMarch–June7,190
UtahNativeMarch–May3,362
MontanaNativeApril–June2,104
WyomingNativeMay–June2,018
IdahoNativefew records (35)1,642
New MexicoNativeApril–May1,165
South DakotaNativefew records (10)158

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
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: ND (S2), TX (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 peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, leaves, roots, sap/juice. Symptoms they list: “Ingestion may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.” They also note: “Edible fruits though they are sour.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 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 creeping mahonia in 19 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Archuleta, Boulder, Conejos, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Powell, Ravalli, Rosebud, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Teton.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Creeping mahonia a low shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium
Soil pH range
5.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
180
Annual precipitation range
15 to 45 inches
Minimum root depth
10 inches
Salinity tolerance
Low
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring
Fruit or seed
Blue · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MARE11. 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): Berberis amplectens, Berberis pumila, Berberis sonnei, Mahonia amplectens, Mahonia pumila, Mahonia sonnei, Odostemon pumilus, Odostemon repens.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 243 counties across 16 states; the most are in Colorado (34), Montana (31), Utah (29).

Other Berberis on Bloomipedia (6): Japanese barberry, Agarita, Oregon grape, Cascade 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.

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Sources