Pacific Northwest and other areas that have oregon grape bushes

[duh]

In Washington in many of the national forests there is an agressive bush called the oregon grape.  It looks like a holly bush and is prickly too.  But I have to say if you want some of the best jelly pick the fruit off of these bushes and make it.  We used to do it as kids and I loved it.  The name is misleading it isn't a grape.  If anything it looks like a small blueberry. 

[MassMama]

When I lived in Oregon.... My parents always told me they were poisonous!!  I can't believe you can eat them!! even when I got older I thought that and never gave it much thought!!

[duh]

No oregon grapes aren't poisonous or I'd be long dead.  The bushes do have holly like leaves that poke you though so fingerless gloves help in the picking.

I wonder why your parents thought they were poisonous. 

[MassMama]

  No idea!! who knows maybe they think they are?

[duh]

Possibly because the holly berry is posionous.  The plants do look very similar except for the color of the berry.