Oregon grape

noun

1. an evergreen shrub, Mahonia aquifolium, of the barberry family, of the western coast of the U.S., having small blue berries and yellow flowers that are the state flower of Oregon.
2. the berry itself.

Oregon grape

noun

1. an evergreen berberidaceous shrub, Mahonia aquifolium, of NW North America, having yellow fragrant flowers and small blue edible berries
2. the berry of this shrub

Word History and Origins

Origin of Oregon grape¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Dix organized work parties to clear paths and applied for a $2,200 King Conservation District grant to landscape and replant it with native plants — bunchberry, Oregon grape, flowering currant, salal.

From Seattle Times

Sword ferns battle it out next to salal and Oregon grape, beneath draping Western red cedar and stout Douglas firs.

From Seattle Times

Oregon grape to strengthen the liver, fireweed gel that helps with burns, cottonwood buds for healing cuts and scrapes, medicine for poor circulation and diabetes — the healing was all around us.

From Seattle Times

Picture a woodland glade along Alaskan Way populated with dogwood, willow oak and coast redwood trees skirted with blossoming camellias, shrubby cinquefoil and Oregon grape.

From Seattle Times

When I visited in June, tiny blue bellflowers and low-growing Oregon grape also accented the straw-colored slopes.

From Seattle Times