Pygmy Caragana vs Oregon Grape - TreeTime.ca

Pygmy Caragana vs Oregon Grape

Berberis aquifolium (Mahonia aquifolium)

Caragana pygmaea

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Oregon Grape
Pygmy Caragana

Oregon Grape is an evergreen shrub native to North America, found along the Pacific coast. In spring, the bright golden-yellow flowers appear in clusters above the leaves. These flowers eventually give way to edible blue berries in late summer. While not a true grape, the berries appear grape-like due to their colouring and clustered growth. They can be eaten fresh, but the sour taste and high amounts of natural pectin make them well suited for preserves.

The Oregon Grape has leaves that are glossy, leathery, and spiny-edged. This feature gives it its alternate name of Holly-leaved Barberry. When the leaves emerge in the spring they are a bronze-red colour. In the summer they transition to green, followed by bright red to deep burgundy in the fall. Leaves are retained throughout the winter and colder temperatures cause the leaves to turn purplish bronze, providing year round interest to the landscape.

Pygmy Caragana is a shrub that is related to Common Caragana and has a compact size that is suitable for yards with limited space. Its size is perfect for landscaping and decorative hedges, and requires little maintenance. This nitrogen fixer has fine-textured foliage and small yellow flowers. Much like Common Caragana, it is hardy and drought tolerant.

Popular as a low maintenance commercial landscaping shrub and for hedging. This species does have tiny spines that might poke you a bit. It has a nice appealing texture when mature.

Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Pygmy Caragana seeds at SeedTime.ca.

Oregon Grape Quick Facts

Pygmy Caragana Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 2b
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: shade, partial shade
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: bright red to deep burgundy
Berries: blue to purple, large
Flowers: yellow
Flowers: prolific tiny yellow pea-like flowers
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none




Other Names: pygmy peashrub