Flower profile

Oregon grape

Berberis aquifolium

Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium) is a shrub in the Berberidaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

★ Official state flower of Oregon (1899)Native in the lower 48

Oregon grape is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 3 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

11states where USDA records it

3Bloomipedia state lists include it

18,051U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Idaho, Oregon, Washington

🏅

Oregon's official state flower since 1899. Visit the Oregon page → ^{Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 (1899), listed in ORS chapter 186 notes} Also known as Mahonia aquifolium.

Quick look

Berberis aquifolium, the Oregon grape, holly-leaved barberry, or Mahonia, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae. It is an evergreen shrub growing up to 3 metres (10 ft) tall and 1.5 m (5 ft) wide. It has pinnate leaves consisting of spiny leaflets, exhibiting dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, followed by dark bluish-black berries.
From Wikipedia's article Berberis aquifolium, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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 11 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. ^NatureServe
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 8 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 7,583 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #13 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 7,103 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #4 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 577 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #53 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,259 records)

Bloom time in the 3 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Native	March–May	7,583
Oregon	Native	March–April	7,103
Idaho	Native	few records (27)	577

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}
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.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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: “Not poisonous, but berries contain berberine that can cause stomach upset, especially with children.” ^{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 Oregon grape in 11 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

California, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Washington; District of Columbia.

Washington counties with USDA records: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Walla Walla, Whitman, 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, Wasco, Washington, Wheeler, Yamhill.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Canyon, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Gem, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Valley.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Oregon grape a low shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -43 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 5.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -43 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 170
Annual precipitation range: 20 to 45 inches
Minimum root depth: 20 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Blue · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for MAAQ2. 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 piperiana, Mahonia piperiana, Odostemon aquifolium.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 121 counties across 10 states; the most are in California (43), Washington (26), Oregon (25).

Other Berberis on Bloomipedia (6): Japanese barberry, Agarita, Creeping mahonia, 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.

More Washington flowers

Cascade oregon-grape

Berberis nervosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: April–May

Vanilla leaf

Achlys triphylla

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–June

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MAAQ2.
iNaturalist, Berberis aquifolium: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Berberis aquifolium (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 (1899), listed in ORS chapter 186 notes: Oregon state flower.
Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Berberis aquifolium (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Daughter Dad via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.