Oregon's State Flower – PNW Native Spotlight

Written by Vanesa Ruvalcaba

With our new PNW native section up and running, we at Farmington Gardens would like to highlight one of the most versatile and misunderstood native plants to celebrate the occasion… The Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium), the official state flower of Oregon!

The Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub native to the Pacific Northwest. Contrary to its common name, it’s actually a member of the barberry family. It’s also edible, with many medicinal uses. The stems can be used to dye garments yellow.

The berries themselves are quite tart and bitter, so they’re often used for jams and jellies. The medicinal properties of Oregon Grape are thought to come from a compound called berberine which may have antibacterial effects. As always, consult a doctor before eating any plant. Local indigenous tribes—the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde in our area— have used it for centuries to treat ailments such as digestive issues, skin conditions, and poor liver function.

The leaves are holly-like and will poke you if given the opportunity! The flowers are vibrant yellow and form in small clusters along a stalk. Peak bloom time is early to mid-spring, bearing fruit in the fall. Some varieties of Mahonia can grow to be 3-10ft tall. They prefer partial to full shade but can take moderate sun as well. They’ll perform best in moist, well-drained, acidic soil. They tend to be leggy but do fill out as specimens get larger. Being a native plant, much of the wildlife in our area love the Oregon Grape. Small creatures take shelter underneath the foliage while pollinators flock to it for nectar and pollen.

We have Mahonia and many other PNW natives at Farmington Gardens for you to choose from:

• Pseudotsuga menziesii – Douglas-fir – Evergreen Conifer, Sun to Part Shade, Symbolic to the Pacific Northwest
• Achillea millefolium – Common Yarrow – Perennial, Sun to Part Shade, Pollinator Favorite
• Ribes sanguineum – Red-Flowering Currant – Deciduous Shrub, Sun to Part Shade, Fast Grower, Pollinator and Wildlife Friendly
• Amelanchier alnifolia– Pacific Serviceberry – Deciduous Shrub, Sun to Part Shade, Pollinator and Wildlife Friendly
• Blechnum spicant – Deer Fern – Fern, Part Shade to Shade, Wildlife Friendly
• Arctostaphylos uva-ursi – Kinnikinnick – Evergreen Groundcover, Full Sun, Pollinator and Wildlife Friendly

And there are many others! Thinking of planting native? Come to Farmington and behold our beautiful selection! HAPPY SPRING AND MERRY GARDENING!