Tall Oregon grape is a woody perennial shrub in the barberry family that is tough enough to survive in many conditions and yet provides edible and medicinal yields. It grows 2-7 feet tall in well-drained sunny or shady locations. Small yellow flowers give way to edible purple berries that make a great bitter digestive, fresh, dried, tinctured, or in jam. The yellow color of the stems and roots indicates the presence of berberine, a tea or tincture of which decreases congestion and helps fight bacteria. We’ve planted it all over the understory of our forested hillside because it’s native and so useful!