When to plant Oregon grape in Omak and Okanogan, WA

Where it grows wild

Oregon grape is Oregon's state flower and one of the most common native shrubs in Northwest woods and forest edges. Tall Oregon grape grows upright to about six feet and handles sun or shade. Low Oregon grape, also called dull Oregon grape, stays under two feet and carpets shady forest floors under Douglas firs.

Despite the name, it isn't related to grapes. The spiny, holly-like leaves stay green all year and often turn reddish or bronze in winter.

Easy care

Oregon grape is about as low-maintenance as shrubs get. It grows in most soils, takes sun or deep shade, and once settled in it needs no summer water at all. Water through the first summer, mulch, then leave it alone. Every few years, cut a few of the oldest stems to the ground in late winter to keep it full and leafy at the base.

Leaf spot and rust can appear in crowded, damp spots. Giving plants room for airflow is usually enough.

Wildlife value

The bright yellow flower clusters open in early spring, when few other plants are blooming, and are a key early food for native bumblebees and hummingbirds. Birds eat the berries in summer, and the evergreen, prickly leaves make safe cover for small birds. It's a great choice for a shady wildlife hedge or a planting under trees where little else grows.