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Creeping Oregon Grape, Creeping Barberry - Mahonia repens


Family: Berberidaceae – Barberry family Genus Common Name: Barberry Native Status: Native
Mahonia repens - Creeping Oregon Grape, Creeping Barberry. The Berberis genus at one time contained all the barberries, but relatively recently those with pinnate leaves have been reclassified into the Mahonia genus. Further, many of what were previously classified as separate species have been consolidated, leaving what had been over 20 species and varieties of Berberis as 13 species or subspecies in the Mahonia genus in the United States.

This species, Mahonia repens is listed as Endangered in California under the synonym Mahonia sonnei. It is found in 19 states, most of them in the west, although there are populations in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. These eastern populations might have been established from seeds brought back from the west. Seeds were brought east as early as the Lewis and Clark expeditions in the early 19th century.
Distribution of Mahonia repens in the United States and Canada:
USDA Plants Distribution Map
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 09 Sep 2010). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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Site: Boise National Forest, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-15Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Mahonia repens is a relatively low-growing, sprawling shrub with holly-like pinnate leaves and dense clusters of bright yellow flowers.
Mahonia repens
Site: Boise National Forest, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-15Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The dense clusters of yellow flowers, each around ½-inch across, will become dense clusters of grape-like edible, blue berries. (Caution: Do your own research before eating anything based on something you've read on the Internet.)
Click on the photo for a larger image
Mahonia repens
Site: Boise National Forest, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-15Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
Creeping Oregon Grape is evergreen, but the holly-like pinnate leaves will turn an attractive color in the fall/winter – reported hues from copper to red.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Mahonia repens

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2010
Photographs Copyrighted by the named photographer


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