Oregon grape

noun

Or·​e·​gon grape ˈȯr-i-gən- 

ˈär-,

-ˌgän-

: an evergreen shrub (Berberis aquifolium) of the barberry family that has yellow flowers, bears edible bluish-black berries, and is native to western North America

Illustration of Oregon grape

Examples of Oregon grape in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Berberine is a compound extracted from plants, such as the Oregon grape, barberry, and goldenseal.8 Research has shown that berberine improves blood sugar control and cholesterol.3 How Does Berberine Work? —Trang Tran, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2025

Berberine Berberine is a compound found in plants such as barberry, Oregon grape, and goldthread. —Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 20 June 2025

Groundcovers: Dwarf coyote bush (one of the best possible deep-rooting slope retainers), manzanita (incredibly fire resistant with hard, dense leaves), Ceanothus, and Oregon grape. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 20 Sep. 2024

Japanese honeysuckle, dewberry, dogwood, blackberry cane, and Oregon grape are all examples of regional species that are highly favored by deer—and most of them can last well into the winter. —Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024

Berberine is a natural compound found in various plants, including goldenseal, turmeric, and Oregon grape. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Oregon, state of the U.S.

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Oregon grape

• audiotape
• videotape
• agape
• escape
• landscape
• lenape
• reshape
• seascape
• soundscape
• ape
• cape
• crape

Medical Definition

Oregon grape

noun

Or·​e·​gon grape ˌȯr-i-gən-, ˌär-, -ˌgän- 

: an evergreen shrub of the genus Mahonia (M. aquifolium) having a rhizome and roots from which various alkaloids (as berberine) are obtained