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| Oregon Grape |
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The Oregon grape is a member of the Barberry family, and indeed Peck lists is as Berberis Aquifolium however other authorities list it as Mahonia Aquifolium. With a leaf similar to a holly leaf, the Oregon grape is no relation to the grape, but it does produce a relatively bitter blue berry in the fall.
It is common in shaded areas in Western Oregon and Washington State, often mixed with salal and has become popular as low maintenance landscaping. The plants are a shrub rarely over knee high. It is a hardy shrub that seems to survive in a wide variety of conditions, though not usually found in bogs or wetlands.