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Northwest Blooms · Shrubs

Mahonia repens

Creeping Oregon Grape

Mahonia repens
Family
Berberidaceae
Height
1 to 2 feet
Width
5 to 8 feet (spreading habit)
Flower color
Bright yellow
Foliage color
Evergreen, glossy green leaves that can turn bronze to reddish in cold weather
Bloom time
Late winter to early spring
Light
Partial sun
Water
Low
Maintenance
Low; requires minimal pruning and is slow-spreading
Growing zone
USDA Zones 5 to 9
Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; blue berries are a food source for birds

About this plant

Mahonia repens, commonly known as Creeping Oregon Grape, is a hardy evergreen shrub native to North America. It thrives in woodland and rocky environments, offering vibrant yellow flowers that bloom in late winter to early spring. These blooms give way to clusters of blue berries that attract a variety of wildlife, including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The plant's natural range spans dry, rocky slopes and open forests, making it a great choice for erosion control on slopes or as a groundcover in native or woodland gardens​.

Mahonia repens low-growing, rhizomatous habit allows it to spread effectively, creating dense foliage that is drought-tolerant once established. The glossy, holly-like leaves turn a deep bronze hue in colder months, adding seasonal interest. As a deer-resistant and low-maintenance plant, it is an excellent addition to gardens seeking year-round greenery and ecological value.

Works well in

Native Gardens · Woodland Gardens · Slopes & Banks · Bird Gardens

Companion plants

Hydrangea · Viburnum · Pulmonaria · Japanese forest grass · Wood sorrel · Epimedium

Design tip

Use creeping Oregon grape as a spreading evergreen layer beneath taller shrubs or along slopes, where its low growth can knit together open areas of the planting. Allow it to form broad drifts rather than isolated specimens to take advantage of its groundcover habit and create a more naturalistic effect.

Where to see it

This plant can be seen at the Oregon Monrovia Display Garden.