Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens)

Other names holly grape, creeping barberry, Oregon Grape, barberry, creeping Oregon-grape, creeping mahonia, trailing mahonia

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −23.3 °C

Cultivation

An easily grown plant, it thrives in any good garden soil, preferring one on the dryish side. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in the light shade of trees[K]. This species is hardy to about -15°c if growing in a sheltered position. Established plants sucker freely and form quite dense thickets. The flowers are scented. Resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. It usually germinates in the spring[K]. 'Green' seed (harvested when the embryo has fully developed but before the seed case has dried) should be sown as soon as it is harvested and germinates within 6 weeks[K]. Stored seed should be sown as soon as possible in late winter or spring. 3 weeks cold stratification will improve its germination, which should take place in 3 - 6 months at 10°c. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division of suckers in spring. Leaf cuttings in the autumn.

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked.

Medicinal uses

The root and root bark is alterative, anaphrodisiac, antiseptic, cholagogue, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative and tonic. A poultice of the fresh berries has been applied to boils. Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Mahonia species, has marked antibacterial effects.

Material uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the inner bark of the stem and roots. Dark green, violet and dark blue-purple dyes are obtained from the fruit. A green dye is obtained from the leaves. Plants form suckers freely, making a good dense ground cover.