Oregon Grape Podcast Script

Oregon Grape
Scientific Name: Mahonia aquifolium

The dicot Mahonia aquifolium is a very interesting and useful plant. First, let's identify it.

The Oregon Grape shrub grows to a maximum of 8 feet, but this is usually rare. Most likely, the mature plants you will find will be between 3 to 6 feet tall.

The shrub consists of many leaves, flowers, and berries. The green leaves are shiny yet coarse and have many sharp points that hurt if handled incorrectly. D'OH! The flowers are a bright yellow and grow in clusters of racemes that are 2 to 3 inches long. These flowers have both male and female parts, can self-fertilize, and are pollinated by insects.
The fruit of Mahonia aquifolium is the berry. These berries are small, about half an inch in diameter, and are a dark blue. Though they grow in clusters similar to grapes, and the common name calls them so, they are not at all related.

Now that you know what Oregon Grape looks like, the obvious question is: where should one look for it?
Oregon Grape is often found on the west coast of America, but can also be found in some states on the east. The plant is the state flower of Oregon, and is thusly named. Generically, Oregon Grape can be found in both woodland and urban areas because of special adaptations that we will discuss later. In California, Oregon Grape is primarily found on slopes in elevations of zero to 7000 feet. As of 1823, Oregon Grape can be found in England, where it was introduced to the woods and hedgerows from America.

Now about those special adaptations. It turns out Mahonia aquifolium is quite versatile. First, it is shade tolerant, allowing it to grow under the shade of taller trees or buildings as well as in direct sunlight. Second, it is drought tolerant and requires a minimum precipitation of 25 mm to survive. Oregon Grape can also grow in different soil types, including sandy, loamy, or clay. One of the few things the plant can't stand is strong wind, however, it can withstand extremely low temperatures up to -43 degrees Fahrenheit.

One extremely important aspect of Oregon Grape is its ability to form thickets. THICK THICKETS. This makes it a favorite among landscapers, espeically with its added versatility. Just set it down and watch it grow. In the woodland, this ability actually excludes other plants, making Oregon Grape an invasive species according to some sources.

Besides landscaping, Oregon Grape is also useful as food, coloration, and medicine.

Both the flowers and the berries are edible raw, though the berries might be a tad tart to taste. The flowers can also be used in a drink and the berries can alternatively be used in a jelly.

Oregon Grape produces two dyes for coloring. The yellow dye comes from the inner bark and roots and the dark blue dye can be extracted from the berries.

Finally, Oregon Grape has many medicinal uses. Shortly summarized, the plant's chemical properties allow it to be used as an alterative, something that improves the body overall rather than targeting a specific function, a cholagogue to help with bile secretion, a diuretic, a laxative, and a tonic. Oregon Grape also contains berberine, which has anti-bacterial properties.

Thus, Oregon Grape is a versatile, vibrant, and useful plant that not only tastes good but will make you feel better as well.
And that's the end of that chapter.

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