Herb. No. 092 · Berberidaceae
Pacific Northwest Mahonia of dry woods from British Columbia to California.
Native · North America
Native Also grown
OpenCautionplant
Oregon grape
Mahonia aquifolium
A holly-leaved west-coast shrub whose yellow root is a bitter berberine cousin of goldenseal.
Oregon grape is used as a goldenseal stand-in because both carry berberine. Traditional use is as a bitter for the gut and as a skin wash. Berberine is a real drug-like alkaloid: not for pregnancy, not a marathon internal, caution with many medicines. The blue berries are tart food once seeded, not the medicine.
Flavor
Root is shockingly bitter and yellowing. Berry is grape-sour once cooked.
Parts used
Root and rhizome · Berry as food
In favor
- A gardenable berberine shrub
- Evergreen and native in the Pacific Northwest
Against
- Berberine interactions
- Bitter
- Not for pregnancy