The Farm’s Ethnobotanical Garden features two native species of Oregon Grape: the Tall Oregon Grape and the Low Oregon Grape. Bonhoeffer Botanical Gardens introduces a third species, the Creeping Oregon Grape.
The Tall Oregon Grape is a shrub that grows between 3 to 6 feet in height. In Washington State, it’s commonly used on beach slopes to prevent erosion and is visible from many ferry rides. Its leathery, glossy green leaves have spiny edges that resemble holly leaves. 
The most widespread species is the Low Oregon Grape, which produces blue berries typically found in shaded areas under trees. The author recalls being sent into the woods as a child to gather these berries, along with those of the Salal plant. At home, the two fruits—one slightly sour, the other very sweet—were crushed and strained through white flour sacks hung from a porch rafter, with a bucket below to collect the juice. This mixture was then turned into a jelly that has been enjoyed by both Native Americans and pioneers for generations, perhaps even millennia. “If you make this jelly, its flavor will stay with you for a lifetime.”
All three species of Oregon Grape belong to the Berberidaceae family and can be found near Kiosk 7. According to the Pilchuck Learning Center’s Western Washington State University SAM Project, the likelihood of extinction for these species is low.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35069611/
http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=mahonia
https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=MAAQ2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahonia_aquifolium
https://thewholeu.uw.edu/2020/07/08/summer-berry-guide/
https://www.boskydellnatives.com/salal-oregongrapejelly.htm
https://www.plc215.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Kiosk-07.pdf
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/9806/sp50536wildberriesandfruits.pdf
A still popular jam is made from Oregon Grape berries and the berries of the:
grace many rural tables today (the former is tart; the latter is sweet).
Oregon Grape: Elementary vocabulary
| Berry: A small, round fruit that can be eaten.
Example: The Oregon grape has small berries that are sour but can be made into jam. Roots: The part of a plant that grows underground and takes in water and nutrients. Example: People used the roots of the Oregon grape to make medicine. Flower: The colorful part of a plant that makes seeds or fruit. Example: The Oregon grape has yellow flowers that bloom in the spring. Spiny: Having sharp points. Example: The leaves of the Oregon grape have spiny edges, similar to holly leaves. Medicinal: Something that can be used as medicine to help people feel better. Example: Parts of the Oregon grape plant, like its root, are used for medicinal purposes. |
Directions: Use each term in a sentence to show you understand what it means.
- Berry:_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
- Roots:____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
- Flower:____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
- Spiny:_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
- Medicinal:_________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Match the term with the definition. Put the letter on the line.
Terms:
- ______Berry
- ______Roots
- ______Flower
- ______Spiny
- ______Medicinal
Definitions:
- Having sharp points.
- The colorful part of a plant that makes seeds or fruit.
- A small, round fruit that can be eaten.
- The part of a plant that grows underground and takes in water and nutrients.
- Something that can be used as medicine to help people feel better.
Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct term.
| Berry Root Flower Spiny Medicinal |
- The Oregon grape has small _____________ that are sour but can be made into jam.
- People used the ________________ of the Oregon grape to make medicine.
- The Oregon grape has yellow ________________ that bloom in the spring.
- The leaves of the Oregon grape have _________________ edges, similar to holly leaves.
- Parts of the Oregon grape plant, like its root, are used for _________________ purposes.
Oregon Grape Secondary vocabulary
| Evergreen – A plant that keeps its leaves all year round, even in the winter.
Example: The Oregon grape is an evergreen, which means its leaves stay green all year long. Medicinal – Something that is used to treat illness or improve health. Example: Indigenous people used the Oregon grape for its medicinal properties to treat infections. Poultice – A soft, moist mixture made from plants or other substances that is applied to the skin to heal wounds or reduce pain. Example: A poultice made from Oregon grape roots was used to heal rashes. Pollinators – Animals or insects that move pollen from one flower to another, helping plants produce fruit or seeds. Example: Bees are pollinators that visit Oregon grape flowers to collect nectar. Antimicrobial – A substance that kills or slows the growth of bacteria and other harmful organisms. Example: The roots of the Oregon grape contain antimicrobial compounds that help fight infections. |
Directions: Use each term in a sentence to show you understand what it means.
Evergreen: _____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Medicinal:_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Poltice:____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Polinators:_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Antimicrobial:__________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Oregon Grape High School vocabulary
Directions: Match the term with the definition. Put the letter on the line.
| Medicinal Poultice Antimicrobial Evergreen Pollinators |
- During a nature walk, Ella noticed a plant that stayed green even though it was winter, while all the other plants had lost their leaves. She learned that this plant is called an ___________________.
- While hiking with her family, Sarah got a small rash on her arm. Her grandmother showed her how to crush Oregon grape roots into a soft paste and put it on the rash. This paste is an example of a ______________________.
- At school, Miguel’s class studied how some plants can be used to heal people. His teacher explained that the Oregon grape has been used for hundreds of years to help treat infections because of its _______________________ properties.
- Mason and his friends watched bees flying from flower to flower on the Oregon grape plant. “They’re helping the plant grow fruit by moving pollen,” his teacher said. These bees are called ____________________.
- While learning about natural remedies, Olivia’s class discovered that Oregon grape roots contain special substances that can stop harmful bacteria from growing. These substances have ________________________ properties.
Directions: Match the definition to the word by putting the letter on the line.
Words:
- _____ Evergreen
- _____ Medicinal
- _____ Poultice
- _____ Pollinators
- _____ Antimicrobial
Definitions:
- A soft mixture applied to the skin to heal.
- Something that kills or slows harmful bacteria.
- Animals that help plants reproduce.
- A plant that stays green all year.
- Something used to treat illness.
High School Vocabulary Oregon Grape
| Mahonia: The scientific genus name for Oregon grape. It is important for students to know this when studying the plant’s botanical classification.
Chinook: Refers to the Indigenous people native to the Pacific Northwest, where the Oregon grape is found. The Chinook people have traditionally used parts of the Oregon grape plant for medicinal purposes. Pacific Northwest: The geographical region in North America that includes Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, where Oregon grapes naturally grow. Alkaloid: A type of naturally occurring compound found in Oregon grape roots. Berberine, an alkaloid, is used for its antimicrobial and medicinal properties. Medicinal Ethnobotany: The study of how Indigenous cultures use plants for healing and medicine. Oregon grape has been used in medicinal ethnobotany by Native American groups for its healing properties. |
Directions: Use each term in a sentence to show you understand what it means.
Mahonia: _____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Chinook:_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Pacific Northwest:_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Alkaloid:_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Medicinal Ethnobotany:_________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
College Level Vocabulary Oregon Grape
| Berberine: An important bioactive compound found in the roots and stems of Oregon grape. It is a bitter, yellow alkaloid with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, used in both traditional and modern medicine.
Xerophyte: A type of plant adapted to survive in dry environments. Oregon grape is considered a xerophyte due to its ability to thrive in well-drained soils and tolerate drought conditions. Rhizome: The underground stem of the Oregon grape that stores nutrients and helps the plant spread. Understanding the rhizome is crucial for studying its growth patterns and propagation. Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: The mutually beneficial relationship between the roots of the Oregon grape and certain fungi in the soil. This symbiosis aids in nutrient uptake and enhances the plant’s resilience in its native environment. Ecological Succession: The process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. Oregon grape plays a role in the early stages of forest succession, helping stabilize soil and create conditions for other plants to grow. |
Directions: Use each term in a sentence to show you understand what it means.
Berberine: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Xerophyte:______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rhizome:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mycorrhizal Symbiosis_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ecological Succession:___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________