Carried by 25 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Dwarf Mahonia (Berberis aquifolium var. repens) is a native plant, growing in the mountains and foothills of the northern part of California. It enjoys dry shade below 700 ft. It can be found as far north as SE Alaska and eastern Alberta to central New Mexico. Outside its native range it qualifies as invasive. Dense yellow clusters of flowers give way to round dusty dark purple-blue berries, hence the common name Oregon Grape. The edible berries can be used to make wine and purple dye. Some sources describe it as toxic, however. The inner stem gives a yellow dye.
Dwarf Mahonia is very drought tolerant, and very easy to grow, but it looks better with a little bit of summer water.
Shrub
2 - 3 ft Tall
5 ft Wide
Mounding, Spreading
Slow
Evergreen
Yellow, Purple
Spring
Bank stabilization, Containers, Deer resistant, Groundcover
Deep Shade, Partial Shade
Low, Moderate
Max 1x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 15 C - hot° F
Fast
Alkaline to acidic, rocky.
For propagating by seed: 3-7 mos. stratification may give satisfactory germination. Easily propagated from divisions in spring or fall.
Slopes, canyons, dry shade such as piny forest, oak stands, stream banks. Northern inland mountains below 7000'.
Chaparral, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest, Oak Woodland
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 5 likely
Orange Tortrix Moth
Argyrotaenia franciscana
Barberry Geometer
Coryphista meadii
Fall Webworm
Hyphantria cunea
Mesogona olivata