The Oregon Grape, as its name may suggest, is a native plant of the American Northwest, particularly Oregon. It's a prevalent shrub in the area with glossy, dark green, spiny leaves, delicate yellow flowers, and grape-like clusters of dark green berries. It’s been compared to both holly and grapes, and often mistaken for other plants, but Oregon Grape has distinctive qualities all its own. Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest have long been aware of the unique value of Oregon Grape and have been using it medicinally for centuries to address a wide variety of ailments like ulcers, heartburn, rheumatism, kidney problems, and some skin conditions.. Because of its appearance, from its leaves to its yellow-hued stems and roots, the early European settlers in the area considered it another common barberry and it’s classified as such, in the family Berberidaceae.

Much of the European folkloric and medicinal history of Oregon Grape is lumped in with Common Barberry plants because of this. Oregon Grape Root carries the yellowish tint in its stems and roots from the presence of an alkaloid called Berberine, which has long been known to possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Oregon Grape grows and is cultivated widely, making it a good substitute for the endangered Goldenseal plant which is also highly valued for its berberine content. Oregon Grape Root can be decocted for a bitter digestive tea, tinctured with Echinacea to help weather the cold and flu season, or combined with Dandelion and Burdock root to support the liver and healthy, glowing skin.

Common names: Holly Grape, holly-leaf barberry, mountain grape, Oregon grapeholly, and Oregon barberry