Oregon State Flower

Oregon Grape (common name)
Berberis aquifolium (scientific name)

Overview

Oregon adopted the Oregon grape as its state flower in 1899. The little yellow bell-shaped flowers have two rows of three petals each and six stamens. The flowers grow in pointed clusters at the ends of branches, and have some fragrance. Pollinators include a variety of bees, flies, and wasps. Because of their relatively early blooming time, the blossoms are an important seasonal source of nectar. They’re followed by clusters of bluish, round, acidic grape-like fruits .25" (.6 cm) that feed wildlife or can be used to make jam. Each fruit has 3 to 9 seeds. Though they’re edible, people rarely consume them, because they are more seed than fruit. They’re an important food source for local animals, however, which spread the seeds after they have eaten the fruit.

The leaves look similar to holly leaves. They are alternate, with three or four pairs of leaflets plus one at the end. The leaves are evergreen, shiny, and mid-green. Each leaf is a pointed oval, with 15 to 30 spiny points (or "teeth") and scallops all around the edge. Some leaves turn red or purple in cold weather. The shrubs are native from the Rocky Mountains west, though they now also appear in the Great Lakes region and south and east to Kentucky and New Jersey. Nevertheless, these plants are particularly common in Oregon. They like shaded areas, and grow best in the woods or forest, especially under fir trees.

Close-up

STATUS

Official

PHYSICAL DETAILS

Duration: Perennial
Plant: Shrub
Mature Height: 6 ft (1.8 m)
Flowering: March through May
Flowers: .5 in (1.5 cm) wide, 6 petals in 2 rows
Flower Color: Yellow
Leaves: 2–3.4 in (5–8.7 cm) long, 1–2 in (2.4–4.5 cm), shiny with a scalloped, pointed edge similar to holly
Fruit/Seed Color: Blue

HABITAT

Location: Dry, open woods and mountain slopes up to 7,000 ft (2,000 m)
Range: North America from the Rocky Mountains west, Great Lakes south and east to Kentucky and New Jersey

TRIVIA

• Native Americans used the shrub’s wood and bark to make yellow dyes. The root is also a traditional remedy for skin problems.
• Oregon grape is one on the many plants described by the explorer Meriwether Lewis on his expedition across the country; Lewis referred to it as "mountain holly."

Click to enlarge an image

Oregon Grape

Oregon Grape Flowers

Oregon Grape in the Autumn

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom:	Plantae
Subkingdom:	Tracheobionta
Superdivision:	Spermatophyta
Division:	Coniferophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Magnoliidae
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Berberidaceae
Genus:	Berberis
Species:	B. aquifolium

Author: World Trade Press