Plant Data Sheet

Species Berberis nervosa, Oregon grape

Range

Dwarf Oregon-grape occurs west of the Cascade Ranges and the Sierra

Nevada from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to central California.

Climate, elevation

Oregon-grape grows at low to mid elevations in maritime to climates with fairly long growing seasons. Some sites may experience summer drought.

Local occurrence (where, how common)

Oregon grape is a common understory dominant throughout Washington State. This shade-tolerant species can grow in a closed canopy as well as an open meadow or clearcut.

Habitat preferences

Oregon-grape occurs across a wide range of habitats in sub-montane to montane forests.

Plant strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral, late successional)

Facultative seral species.

Associated species

Mixed coniferous forest species such as salal (Gaultheria shallon), pachistima (Pachistima myrsinites), western swordfern (Polystichum munitum), Pacific

rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum).

Other common names include: None found.

May be collected as:

Seeds or vegetative parts.

Collection restrictions or guidelines

Collect the fruit in August to September and clean by macerating with water to get the flesh off.

Seed germination (needs dormancy breaking?)

Seed requires cold stratification for 6 weeks.

Seed life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)

Not specified.

Recommended seed storage conditions

Dry seeds and store in sealed containers at temperatures just above freezing.

Propagation recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)

Seed and bare root.

Soil or medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)

None specified.

Installation form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)

Bare root.

Recommended planting density

1200-2700/ acre.

Care requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.)

None specified.

Normal rate of growth or spread; lifespan

Growth rate slow, vegetative spread rate moderate.

Sources cited

Drake Deanne, Kern Ewing, and Patrick Dunn, 1998. Techniques to Promote Germination of Seed from Puget Sound Prairies. Restoration & Management Notes 16:1 Summer.

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/berner/distribution_and_occurrence.html

Pojar, Jim and Andrew MacKinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast Washington, Oregon British Columbia & Alaska. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 527 p.

http://plants.usda.gov/

Data compiled by (student name and date)

Lara Johnson