Late March through early April brings the spectacular flowering of Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium and M. nervosa), Washington's official state flower, with bright golden-yellow flower clusters that light up shaded forests. These evergreen shrubs produce dense racemes of honey-scented flowers that attract early-season bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Tall Oregon grape (M. aquifolium) grows 3-6 feet with glossy, holly-like leaves, while low Oregon grape (M. nervosa) forms ground-covering colonies in deep forest shade. The flowers develop into edible blue-purple berries by summer, which were traditionally used by indigenous peoples for food and medicine. Oregon grape's roots contain berberine, a compound with antimicrobial properties still used in herbal medicine today. Look for these brilliant yellow displays in coniferous forests, mixed woodlands, and native plant gardens throughout the Pacific Northwest.