Creeping Oregon Grape

Mahonia repens

Common Names: Creeping Mahonia, Grapeberry Creeping Mahonia

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-8b (4?) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub

Height at Maturity: 18-24″

Width at Maturity: 3-4′

Spacing: 2.5-3′ for solid hedges or mass plantings; 6’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Spreading Mound

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast when established

Flower Color: Yellow

Flower Size: Small, 0.5″ in clusters

Flowering Period: Late Winter, Early Spring

Flower Type: Single, in rounded clusters

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Dark Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes, grape-shaped, edible

Berry Color: Blue

Sun Needs: Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade or Mostly Shade, All Day Filtered Sun

Water Needs: Average; Very Low when established

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silty, Rocky

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained, Dry Once Established

Soil pH: 6.0 – 8.0 (Slightly Acid to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Very Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-20F / Zones 5-8), Deer – more info, Disease, Drought, Poor Soil, Heat, Insect

Description

A shrublet that is often used as a groundcover due to its low and spreading habit, the Creeping Oregon Grape, Mahonia repens, grows to around 1 foot to 18 inches tall very slowly creeping to 4 feet or so over time. It features highly attractive and ornamental holly-like evergreen leaves that are blue-green and turn to showy bronzy-purple to red shades in winter. In late winter to spring small clusters of fragrant bright-yellow flowers adorn the mound. The flowers are followed by edible blue berries resembling grapes, hence the common name, and we hear they are great for making a delicious jelly. This is perfect plant for use as a specimen or as a groundcover in a partial to fully shaded garden bed, woodland setting or home foundation planting. Combines beautifully with other types of Mahonia, Aucuba, Illicium (Anise), Cast Iron Plant, Hosta lilies, Heuchera, perennial ferns and other shade loving plants and trees.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 1 to 2 feet tall and spreading slowly to 4 feet wide, the Creeping Oregon Grape is ideal for use as an accent in small garden spaces or as a solo or combined with other plants in containers, or in groupings or mass plantings larger landscape and woodland borders and home foundation plantings. A fine addition to shade gardens, yellow theme gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens, Asian gardens, woodland gardens and tropical look gardens. Consider Creeping Jenny or Vinca minor (Evergreen Periwinkle) as an underplanting.

Suggested Spacing: 2.5 -3′ apart for solid hedges or mass plantings; 6 feet or more apart for space between plants

How To Measure Total Square Feet Of A Planting Area

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Growing Preferences

Creeping Oregon Grape is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and shade to part shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is okay, but avoid direct afternoon sun. That said, in cool summer climates we hear it will grow in full sun. Drought tolerant when established and very easy to maintain requiring little or no pruning.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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