From the Spring Foraging Cookbook: Oregon Grape

Depending on where you live, the berries of Oregon Grape maybe ripen in late spring or early summer.  Its cousin, Barberry, may have last fall’s berries still on its thorny stems in spring, as well.  I prefer the larger, blue to reddish berries of Oregon Grape, although I have both growing on my property.  Both plants are very important to herbal medicine, having strong antiseptic properties and being very good for the liver and stomach.  The berries of Oregon Grape, like the entire plant, are extremely bitter, but not unpleasant.  Combined, in small amounts, with either other fruits or large amounts of sugar they can make a very nice jelly or wine.  Once you get used to their bitterness, you may enjoy snacking on a few berries while hiking.  The flavor can be quite shocking to the uninitiated, but gradually you can develop a taste for them as I have.



Oregon Grape berries are more like cranberries than any other fruit that comes to mind.  A simple compote made of them makes an excellent side dish for roasted meat and fowl.  Put a cup or two of berries into a pot, along with a cup of water and bring to a low boil.  Once cooked, press the berries through a strainer to remove the seeds.  Return to the pot and add a cup or so (to taste) of sugar, a cup of water and some citrus zest.  Bring to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved.  You can add any spices you like – I think cinnamon and clove are very nice.  The flavor will be something like a tart cranberry sauce and should not be too sweet, but will have a distinctive Oregon Grape taste and aroma.  A small serving should ensure good digestion with even the heaviest meal.



Medicinally, Oregon Grape is among our most important plants.  Let's turn to Plants For A Future again:



Medicinal use of Oregon Grape: Oregon grape was often used by several native North American Indian tribes to treat loss of appetite and debility. Its current herbal use is mainly in the treatment of gastritis and general digestive weakness, to stimulate the kidney and gallbladder function and to reduce catarrhal problems. The root and root bark is alterative, blood tonic, cholagogue, diuretic, laxative and tonic. It improves the digestion and absorption and is taken internally in the treatment of psoriasis, syphilis, haemorrhages, stomach complaints and impure blood conditions. Externally, it has been used as a gargle for sore throats and as a wash for blurry or bloodshot eyes. The roots are harvested in late autumn or early spring and dried for later use. The fruit is an excellent gentle and safe laxative. Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Mahonia species, has marked antibacterial effects and is used as a bitter tonic. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity. The root and root bark are best harvested in the autumn.

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Thanks for the information!

For the European Permies, note that Oregon Grape is a common landscaping plant in Germany.  Many nurseries sell it, and you might be able to forage it, with caution.  (It kills me that the park near me that is full of berries every year also has big signs warning about rat poison.)

Morfydd St. Clair wrote:Thanks for the information!

For the European Permies, note that Oregon Grape is a common landscaping plant in Germany.  Many nurseries sell it, and you might be able to forage it, with caution.  (It kills me that the park near me that is full of berries every year also has big signs warning about rat poison.)

It is very easy to transplant and grows well in containers. Maybe you can grab one.  Even if you break off most of the root, a small one will survive.

Judson Carroll wrote:

Morfydd St. Clair wrote:Thanks for the information!

For the European Permies, note that Oregon Grape is a common landscaping plant in Germany.  Many nurseries sell it, and you might be able to forage it, with caution.  (It kills me that the park near me that is full of berries every year also has big signs warning about rat poison.)

It is very easy to transplant and grows well in containers. Maybe you can grab one.  Even if you break off most of the root, a small one will survive.

Thank you!  I have two young bushes in my Kleingarten that I bought from a nursery.  So far they give me a nice handful of berries every year.  I'm reluctant to go nab one from the park but maybe I can divide these?  I'll look it up.

They self seed very easily, too.