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Mahonia nervosa (Pursh) Nutt.

Cascade barberry, Cascade Oregon-grape

Berberidaceae (Barberry Family)

Synonyms: Berberis nervosa

USDA Symbol: mane2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A 1-2 ft. shrub with unbranched stems from long rootstocks. Pinnate leaves occur in terminal tufts and are glossy green with spiny teeth. Drooping racemes of yellow flowers are followed by blue berries with a grayish bloom.

This shrub is usually between 4 and 24 inches tall and is often called Dwarf Oregon-grape. It used to be placed in the genus Berberis.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf: Dark Green
Flower:
Fruit: Blue 8-11 mm
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: N. & c. CA Coast Ranges to B.C. & n. ID
Native Habitat: Wooded slopes below 6000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Soil Description: Rich, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Slow to establish.

Benefit

Use Medicinal: The Skagit tribe used Berberis nervosa medicinally in a root preparation to treat venereal disease (D. E. Moermann 1986).
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Increase is possible with seed.
Seed Collection: Ripe fruits may be pick by hand, using heavy gloves, or flailed onto cloth beneath the bushes. Seeds can be removed through maceration and flotation.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Mahonia nervosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Mahonia nervosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Mahonia nervosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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