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.

For a map see the National Biodiversity Network Gateway

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.

It 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