[The Barberry Family in the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Oregon-grape, Dull Oregongrape, Long-leaved Oregon Grape

Berberis nervosa

Synonyms: Berberis nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa, Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa, Odostemon nervosus

Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Oregon-grape, Dull Oregongrape, Long-leaved Oregon Grape: Berberis nervosa (Synonyms: Berberis nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa, Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa, Odostemon nervosus)

Cascade oregon grape blooming along the Polallie Trail just inside the Mt. Hood National Forest boundary........May 24, 2014.

Characteristics:

Cascade Oregon grape is an attractive shrub, suitable for many northwest gardens. It is a shrub, somewhat fern-like with numerous compound pinnate leaves in a tuft, surrounding the erect stems which contain the flowers and fruit. The stems range from 10-30 cm tall, and the leaves may be as long as 40 cm. The 9-19 leaflets are holly-like, somewhat glossy, and of an ovate-lanceolate shape. They are each from 3-6 cm long and spiny edged, with 12-14 spiny prickles commonly found on each side of the leaflet.

The racemes are at the apex of the central stems, and may be as much as 20 cm long. The outer sepals or bracts are somewhat greenish, from 2-3 mm long, and the inner sepals 6-8 mm long and bright yellow. The bilobed petals are oblong in shape and slightly shorter than the inner sepals. The berries are blue with a whitish bloom and ovoid in shape.

Habitat:

Cascade oregon grape is found in coniferous forests and in clearcuts.

Range:

Cascade oregon grape is found west of the Cascades from southern British Columbia to central California.

Berries and leaves of Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Oregon-grape, Dull Oregongrape, Long-leaved Oregon Grape: Berberis nervosa (Synonyms: Berberis nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa, Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa, Odostemon nervosus) - Mature fruits of Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Oregon-grape, Dull Oregongrape, Long-leaved Oregon Grape: Berberis nervosa (Synonyms: Berberis nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa, Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa, Odostemon nervosus)

Cascade oregon grape with berries as seen at left along the first half mile of the Craggy Peak Trail #3, Gifford Pinchot National Forest...........September 14, 2014. The image at right shows the leaves and ripe fruits of Cascade Oregon grape as seen along the Dry Creek Trail #149, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.....September 30, 2024.

Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Oregon-grape, Dull Oregongrape, Long-leaved Oregon Grape: Berberis nervosa (Synonyms: Berberis nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa, Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa, Odostemon nervosus) - Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Oregon-grape, Dull Oregongrape, Long-leaved Oregon Grape: Berberis nervosa (Synonyms: Berberis nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa, Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa, Odostemon nervosus)

Cascade oregon grape as seen at left along the Loowit Trail #216 between upper Sheep Canyon and the South Fork Toutle River crossing, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument.........October 19, 2014. The image at right shows Cascade Oregon grape in bloom along the Surveyor's Ridge Trail #688 northwest of Gibson Prairie Horse Camp, Mount Hood National Forest......June 11, 2024.

Cascade Oregon Grape, Cascade Oregon-grape, Dull Oregongrape, Long-leaved Oregon Grape: Berberis nervosa (Synonyms: Berberis nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa, Mahonia nervosa var. mendocinensis, Mahonia nervosa var. nervosa, Odostemon nervosus)

Cascade oregon grape with ripening berries as seen along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 about three-quarters of a mile uphill to the northeast of the 68 Road, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.........September 4, 2016.

Paul Slichter