Oregon Grape

A digital rendering of Oregon Grape Mahonia spp. Cool fall weather has caused the leaves to become red. Oregon Grape is not related to true grapes,. The name derives from the clusters of light blue to darker purple-blue berries which are reminiscent of grapes. Oregon grape is a bushy, flowering perennial with shiny, holly-like leaves. it resembles American holly, with almost plastic-like leaves. A number of species of Oregon Grape, Mahonia spp., are to be found from California, throughout the American Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, and north onto Alaska. Oregon grape is Oregon’s state flower. Oregon Grape berries are extremely tart, but with enough sweetener that can be eaten and are delicious with undertones of cherry, raspberry and lemon. They were eaten by Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest, often mixed with other sweeter berries like salal and made into pemmican cakes. With enough added sugar the juice can be fermented to make wine, similar to European barberry wine Oregon grape has a long history of medicinal use. Many tribes in the Pacific Northwest have used it as a blood tonic, an antimicrobial, a laxative, and to ease stomach irritability. It it can also be used to treat psoriasis. A tincture of the inner, yellowish rhizome (root) and fronds (leaves) of the Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) makes an effective tonic against colds.