MAHONIA REPENS / CREEPING OREGON GRAPE-HOLLY

MAHONIA REPENS / CREEPING OREGON GRAPE

A Low-Growing Evergreen Groundcover with Year-Round Interest

Mahonia repens, commonly known as Creeping Oregon Grape, is a low-growing evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub valued for its glossy, leathery foliage, bright yellow spring flowers, and blue-purple berries. Thriving in partial shade with well-drained soils, this spreading native plant makes an excellent groundcover for woodland gardens, shaded slopes, and naturalized landscapes, providing year-round texture and color.

Why Choose Creeping Oregon Grape?

Evergreen Groundcover: Provides year-round foliage and excellent soil coverage.
Early Spring Blooms: Bright yellow flowers support early pollinators.
Wildlife Friendly: Berries attract birds and small mammals.
Low Maintenance: Drought-tolerant once established and resistant to deer browsing.

Key Features:

Foliage Color: Glossy green leaves that often turn reddish-bronze in winter.
Flower Color: Bright yellow flower clusters in early spring.
Fruit Color: Blue to purple berries in late summer.
Height and Spread: Typically grows 1–2 feet tall and spreads 3–6 feet wide.
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zones 4–8.
Sunlight: Prefers partial shade; tolerates full shade.
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soils; prefers loam and slightly acidic conditions.

Specifications:

Plant Size: 1–2 feet tall, spreading 3–6 feet wide.
Growth Habit: Low, spreading evergreen shrub forming dense colonies.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–8.
Flowering: Early spring with bright yellow blooms.

Ideal Uses:

Woodland & Shade Gardens: Excellent as an understory groundcover.
Erosion Control: Spreading habit helps stabilize slopes.
Evergreen Groundcover: Adds year-round interest beneath trees and shrubs.
Pollinator & Wildlife Gardens: Supports early-season pollinators and birds.

Creeping Oregon Grape is a durable and attractive native groundcover. Its evergreen foliage, early flowers, and spreading habit make it an excellent choice for shaded landscapes, woodland gardens, and low-maintenance plantings.