Plant Details

Mahonia japonica

Oregon Grape

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Mahonia japonica.

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Oregon Grape
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Japanse mahonia
French
  • Mahonia du Japon
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Mahonia japonica
Accepted name (Kew): Berberis japonica View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited taxonomic treatment. Botanical references may use alternative names.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Berberidaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Mahonia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Oregon Grape

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 3.00 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Evergreen

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Shade, Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
Fragrant

Description

Fruit - can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a sour taste but is delicious as an addition to muesli or porridge. The flesh is limited and contains many seeds. The egg-shaped fruit is about 9mm long and ripens in the spring. The plant thrives well in sheltered locations, and the fruits grow in large clusters, making them easy to harvest.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/03

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: WCVP version 16, wcvp_names.csv: Mahonia japonica (Thunb.) DC., name ID 2358497, row 1325338; Berberis japonica (Thunb.) Spreng., name ID 2673980, row 1325336
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 506622; name ID 2358552; Mahonia Nutt.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.