Common Name:
Oregon Grape
Holly Grape
Grape Holly
About 70 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees. This genus has now been included in the genus Berberis, thus Oregon Grape, Mahonia aquifolium, is now classified as Berberis aquifolium. However, in commercial horticulture these plants are still known as Mahonia. Leaves are alternate or in whorls at the top of stems, compound (usually pinnate), leaflets are sharply spiny-serrate, in opposite pairs, often glossy. Flowers are yellow, or white or maroon. Fruit are berry-like, plum-red to black. Native to the Americas and Asia.
Mahonia: after Bernard McMahon (born 1816), American nurseryman.
Pronunciation:
ma-HO-ni-a
Family:
Berberidaceae