Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

Family: Berberidaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Glossy holly-leaved evergreen shrub bearing clusters of bright yellow spring blossoms followed by tart dusty-blue berries.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Berries, Flowers

Harvest Seasons: Late Summer, Fall

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Sharply acidic and astringent raw; yields rich wine-like depth when sweetened into jellies and cordials. — Simmered with honey or maple syrup into deep purple jellies; Fermented into traditional wild wines and vinegar shrubs; Yellow spring flowers used as tart edible salad garnish

Habitat & North American Range

Dry to moist coniferous forests, rocky bluffs, and shrubby hillsides. (Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)