# Mahonia berries - edible?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahonia-berries-edible/69913>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 23, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahonia-berries-edible/69913 "2001-06-23T21:52:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahonia-berries-edible/69913/1 "2001-06-23T21:52:43Z")

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I know that the berries of _Mahonia Aquifolium_ are edible (sour, but can be made into preserves); they are also known as Oregon grape.

But are the berries of the other (quite similar) cultivated forms of Mahonia edible? The ones I’ve seen are (I think) _Mahonia x Media ‘Charity’_; it’s because I’m not sure about the precise identification of the species/cultivar that I’m asking if the berries are edible across the whole genus.

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**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2001, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahonia-berries-edible/69913/2 "2001-06-23T23:18:21Z")

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from: [http://comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/edibshrb.html](http://comp.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/edibshrb.html)

Mahonia aquifolium - Oregon Grape: An evergreen shrub growing about four feet tall, this really is one of the most tolerant of plants, succeeding in most situations, even dense shade, and surviving almost total neglect. Fruit production will be greatly improved, though, if you give it just a little bit of attention. The fruit is acid and can be eaten raw (best after a frost) or used in jams, preserves etc. **All other members of this genus have edible fruits.**

M. nevinii - Nevin Mahonia has red berries. It also has gray leaves Apparently it’s rare in nature though, being native to a few scattered localities in Southern California.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahonia-berries-edible/69913/3 "2001-06-24T21:52:44Z")

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Splendid, thanks, this is good, they fruit in mid summer in my locality (i.e. now) I feel a jam-making session approaching.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahonia-berries-edible/69913/4 "2001-06-29T07:54:51Z")

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well, I tried making some syrup last night with a pound of ripe mahonia berries, it was a lovely colour, but unbelievably bitter, even when sweetened, the flavour was nothing much.

The berries seem to lack any aromatic component.

I suppose that’s why they aren’t in cultivation for their fruit.

Still, it’s another thing that I can say I’ve tried.