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Close-up of the yellow flower of creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon
Cheerful green foliage and growth habit of creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon
Close-up of creeping Oregon grape flower (Mahonia repens). Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Flowering growth habit of creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens). Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of creeping Oregon grape flower (Mahonia repens). Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Close-up of creeping Oregon grape berries (Mahonia repens). Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
A sea of creeping Oregon grape leaves and early berries (Mahonia repens). Another stunning Pacific Northwest native plant available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Mature growth habit of creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens) in the habitat garden. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon
Mature growth habit of creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens) on a wild rocky slope. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon
A wild population of creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens) in flower. One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon
A adorable squirrel poses with the foliage of creeping Oregon grape (Mahonia repens). One of approximately 200 species of Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon

Creeping Oregon Grape

Mahonia repens

Creeping Oregon grape, also known as low Oregon grape, is evergreen, hardy, and drought-tolerant. It flaunts drooping sprays of fragrant yellow blooms that support an array of bees, hummingbirds and other pollinators, then mature into berries for backyard birds and wildlife. Its leaves are softer and rounder than its cousin the tall Oregon grape, and provide seasonal color to the garden with a dull bluish green hue in summer and shades of bronze, maroon and red in winter.

  • Plant type/canopy layer: evergreen, perennial, small shrub
  • Size at maturity: 1'-3' tall, 1'-3' wide
  • Light requirements: full sun, part sun/part shade, full shade
  • Moisture requirements: dry to moist soil, prefers well-drained
  • Bloom time: April - July
  • Growth rate/ease: medium growth rate, easy to grow
  • Wildlife support: blooms are very attractive to bees, other insect pollinators and hummingbirds; berries are eaten by birds; foliage provides cover for many species
  • Native habitat/range: common in open woods, especially conifer forests, shrublands, and grasslands up to 2300 m, mainly found east of the Cascades in Oregon and Washington north into British Columbia and south through California and into Texas and extending east into Idaho, Nevada and South Dakota. Portland Plant List - no.
  • Special features & uses: evergreen; wildlife favorite, including hummingbirds; drought-tolerant; deer resistant; edible though sour, berries can be juiced, made into jelly or wine, by itself or in combination with other berries such as salal; roots of all Mahonias can be used for making yellow dye, especially for baskets and other fibers

Gardening with Creeping Oregon Grape: Many native plant purists pass over this plant, since it is native east of the Cascades, and historically not present in the Portland Metro area. However, this species is significantly more versatile and able to tolerate increasingly hot and dry summers than its locally native cousins. In part sun, it will flourish, but it can also tolerate full sun, especially if provided a little supplemental moisture, as well as full shade - even dry shade. It spreads slowly, but once established, is exceptionally hardy and makes a perfect addition to your pollinator garden, as a groundcover under tall trees or in other dry corners of the garden.    

Photo Credit: 1 (flowers, close): "Mahonia repens - creeping barberry" by Matt Lavin is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo Credit (flowers/foliage): © marek, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 2 (foliage, habit): © Jens-Christian Svenning, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 3 (flowers, close): "Mahonia repens" by amywashuta is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Photo Credit 4 (young, flowering habit): © Tyler Hacking, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 5 (flowering habit): © Henrik Kibak, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Photo Credit 6 (berries): © Anders Hastings, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Photo Credit  7 (berries): © Elaine Wolshock/Matthew Fook, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 8 (in a habitat garden): Tracy Cozine, Sparrowhawk Native Plants

Photo Credit 9 (in the wild): © Stephen Hornbeck, some rights reserved (CC-BY) 

Photo Credit 10 (wild, population flowering): © Rolf Lawrenz, some rights reserved (CC-BY)

Phtoto Credit 11 (with squirrel): "Mahonia repens kz04" by Kenraiz is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.