Creeping Oregon Grape vs Falsebox - TreeTime.ca

Creeping Oregon Grape vs Falsebox

Paxistima myrsinites

Mahonia repens

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Falsebox
Creeping Oregon Grape

Falsebox is a hardy, native evergreen shrub found in forests, rocky slopes, and open woodland sites. Though small and easily overlooked among the leaves, the maroon flowers still supply nectar and pollen for pollinators such as native bees and flies. Blooming in spring, they provide an important early-season food source. Its year-round greenery adds visual interest through the winter.

Falsebox is a low-growing shrub that tolerates a wide range of conditions, including drought once established. It thrives particularly well beneath the shade of mature trees, where few other plants succeed. With its resilience and ecological value, Falsebox is well-suited for naturalization, restoration projects, and diverse landscape plantings.

Creeping Oregon Grape is an excellent ground cover plant with attractive, dark green, holly-like leaves. It maintains its leaves throughout winter, which turn mauve, rose, and rust-colored. Clusters of bright, yellow flowers develop into dark, blue-purple edible berries ideal for juice or wine.

Falsebox Quick Facts

Creeping Oregon Grape Quick Facts

Zone: 5a
Zone: 5a
Height: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Height: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Spread: 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Growth form: prostrate to spreading
Spreading: layering - medium
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: evergreen, leathery leaves
Fall colour: purple and bronze
Bark: reddish-brown
Flowers: small, maroon-purple, fragrant
Flowers: yellow
Bloom time: summer
Fruit: large blue/purple
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC
Native to: AB, BC
Other Names: false box, mountain boxwood, mountain lover, myrtle boxwood, oregon boxleaf, oregon boxwood
Other Names: ash barberry, creeping barberry, creeping holly grape, creeping mahonia, creeping oregon-grape, creeping western barberry, holly grape, mountain holly, oregon barberry