Dull Oregon Grape
October 21, 2022
By Adam Huggins
Dull Oregon Grape
Berberis nervosa
- Hul’qumi’num Name: sunii’ulhp
- Description: Low-growing evergreen shrub, up to 60cm tall. Leaves are shiny and leathery, often turning a beautiful red or gold in fall. Flowers are yellow, followed by blue berries.
- Habitat: Dry to moist forests understories.
- Harvest: Ripe blue berries are harvestable in early to mid summer.
- Edibility: Berries are tart but tasty, best mixed with sweeter berries.
- Fun Fact: The berries have natural pectin, making them a great addition to jams an jellies. The rhizomes are yellow due to an alkaloid called Berberin, which is used in herbal medicine.
