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Native Plant Database

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Mahonia repens (Creeping barberry)
Alder, Michael G.

Mahonia repens (Lindl.) G. Don

Creeping barberry, Creeping Oregon-grape

Berberidaceae (Barberry Family)

Synonyms: Berberis repens

USDA Symbol: mare11

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Creeping Oregon-grape or creeping barberry is a stoloniferous, sprawling evergreen of stiff habit with small, fragrant, yellow flowers in drooping racemes, followed by showy, purple fruit. The leathery, holly-like, compound leaves are a muted green, some turning mauve, rose, and rust-colored in winter. The plant grows 1-3 ft. in height.

A beautiful foliage groundcover for shade in the western mountains of the continent, Creeping Barberry has muted green leaves that are occasionally shades of pastel pinks, purples, and oranges. It thrives in good garden soil, but does not tolerate high heat or drying wind. Its yellow spring blooms attract pollinators and its berries attract birds.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Texture: Smooth
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Size Notes: 6 to 10 inches high in the wild; 1 to 2 feet high in cultivation
Leaf: Bluish green with some leaves in pastel pinks and oranges
Flower: Flowers up to quarter inch.
Fruit: Blue 6-10 mm
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Bloom Notes: In Texas, tends to bloom in early April.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , IN , MN , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OR , PA , SD , TX , UT , WA , WY
Canada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: Mountains: British Columbia and Alberta south and east through California to the Black Hills, s. to Arizona and west Texas.
Native Habitat: Dry, open woods & hills at high elevations
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rich, well-drained sandy, loamy, chalky, or granitic soils.
Conditions Comments: Will not do well in too much heat or in drying winds.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: An attractive foliage groundcover for cool climates in shade.
Use Wildlife: Fruit is eaten by birds and other wildlife. Provides wildlife cover.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division , Seeds , Softwood Cuttings
Description: Propagate using treated seed, divisions, or leafy, spring cuttings. The easiest method is spring or fall divisions.
Seed Collection: Ripe fruits may be picked by hand, using heavy gloves, or flailed onto cloth beneath the bushes. Seeds can be removed through maceration and flotation. Air dry and store in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: Successive cold, warm, and cold stratification: moist chill at 34 degrees for 30 days; follow by warm moist storage at 68 degrees for 30 more days; and finally stratify at 34 degrees for up to 196 days.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Pinch new growth to keep the plant compact and dense. Protect foliage from intense sun and winds. The spread of underground stems can be checked by occasional root pruning. Water during hot summers.

Find Seed or Plants

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

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Flowering and evergreen shrubs for landscape in Indiana
May 29, 2010
I live in Southern Indiana and we are getting ready to redesign our front landscape. Currently, we have some yews and other shrubs that are unruly and require a lot of pruning and care. My husband hat...
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Replacing grass with xeric plants in Nevada
March 20, 2009
I am looking to xeriscape my front yard - remove all grass! I am thinking 3-4 larger plants: bird of paradise (mesquite??), aloe, and ..?? Also, possibly a Chilean mesquite. Do you have suggestio...
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Groundcover for erosion control
September 23, 2008
I live in southern california. What is the best groundcover to plant on a slope to prevent erosion?
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Alternatives to non-native heather (Calluna vulgaris)
April 27, 2007
I live in Vernon, BC, Canada. I plan to put a heather plant in my garden, but my space is limited. I know that it will grow approx. 2 ft. high and that it likes well drained and acidic soil, but how...
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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.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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