Seasonal Wild Flowers

Oregon-grape

Mahonia aquifolium

Berberidaceae

February to April

The garden plant is found throughout the country.

The naturalised escape is also widely distributed, but

is less common in the far Southwest, the Southeast

and the North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Oregon-grape

It is a well established naturalised escape found in woods,

hedges, brownfield sites and by country paths and roads.

It is a neophyte, introduced from the US in the 1820s, and

known in the wild since the the 1870s.

Oregon-grape is an evergreen, stoloniferous shrub,

growing up to 1.5m.

The flowers are in erect clusters.

The leaves are dark green with prickles, resembling

holly, and may turn bronze in winter.

The related Mahonia japonica has showy yellow

flowers in long spikes and is in flower from

November onwards, but does not appear to be

naturalised.

Clusters of flowers - bronzed leaves

On rough ground on brown field site

Closer view of cluster

Berries and holly-like leaves

Mahonia japonica