Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin

Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Oregon grape

(a.k.a. Oregon grape holly, Mahonia aquifolium)

Tséch’ilndtł’izíyilt ’ą́ą ’í

Green foliage with yellow flowers on a background of reddish dried leaves.

H. Zell [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Oregon grape is native to parts of the western United States. It is not a grape or a holly, but rather a type of barberry. It grows to a height of 3 to 6 feet and has dark, glossy leaves with spines along the leaf margins. It produces purple berries, which are a source of food for wildlife. The berries were traditionally used for food and dye.

H. Zell [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Kurt Stüber [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

I, Hugo.arg [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Closeup of yellow flowers and glossy leaves with tiny spines on leaf margins

Jean Tosti [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

Cluster of small bright blue berries with red foliage behind them and green foliage farther behind them.

H. Zell [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons

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