29+ Mahonia Purple Berries

Native americans made a yellow dye from the bark and wood of this shrubby species. The berries of this and other oregon grape species are eaten by wildlife and make good jelly.

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Mahonia purple berries

The pale yellow flowers form in long racemes of about eight inches and the leaves are blue green turning dusky maroon during winter. Mahonia nervosa cascade long leaved or dull oregon grape. Some mahonias have grape incorporated in the common name.

Grows to 6 feet high 3 feet wide. Easily taken for granted these tough spiny leaved evergreen shrubs have a number of garden uses. Leatherleaf mahonia was brought to europe from its home in china in the 1800s.

Touching them with your fingers leaves a mark. The berries from grape holly are edible and are actually quite tart. Flowers in short clusters in late summer to early fall.

It is an evergreen shrub growing to 1 m 3 ft tall by 1 5 m 5 ft wide with pinnate leaves consisting of spiny leaflets and dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring followed by dark bluish black berries. The strings of purple fruits are reminiscent of grape clusters. This oregon grape is lower growing evergreen shrub topping out at about two feet.

Mahonia plants thrive in the shade and are drought tolerant once established. Stems bear 10 inches matte green leaves with 7 to 13 spiny toothed leaflets. In the nursery trade some of them are known by the common name mahonia.

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