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CLEAR Temp: 70 °F Wind: S at 8 mph Saturday, October 4, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 25, 2003 Since You Asked State flower has a great edible fruit I’m new to Southern Oregon and have come to admire the region’s native plants. I’ve heard the little fruits of Oregon grape, which are in my yard’s landscaping, are as edible as they sound. Is this true? — Ron S., Medford You have stumbled onto the state flower of Oregon, Ron! And yes, fruit of the plant mahonia aquifolium is edible. Related to barberry, its fruit makes a fine jelly, we’re told. Make sure you’re eating the blue-black fruit of a five- to nine-leafleted plant whose non-deciduous, holly-like leaves typically start reddish or purple in color with scattered red leaves on mature growth throughout the year. We mention this because holly berries are poisonous, including those of the common and similarly named ilex aquifolium (English holly), a familiar import in these parts. Advertisement Oregon grape is native not only to the Rogue Valley, but also ranging from Northern California to British Columbia, mostly west of the Cascades, according to Sunset’s "Western Garden Book" — a must-have if you really dig your gardening. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times