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FACT SHEET: JAPANESE BARBERRY

Japanese Barberry 

Berberis thunbergii DC. 

Barberry family (Berberidaceae) 

NATIVE RANGE 

Japan 

DESCRIPTION 

Japanese barberry is a dense, deciduous, spiny shrub that grows 2 to 8 ft. 

high. The branches are brown, deeply grooved, somewhat zig-zag in form and 

bear a single very sharp spine at each node. The leaves are small (1⁄2 to 1 1⁄2 

inches long), oval to spatula-shaped, green, bluish-green, or dark reddish 

purple. Flowering occurs from mid-April to May in the northeastern U.S. Pale 

yellow flowers about 1⁄4 in (0.6 cm) across hang in umbrella-shaped clusters of 

2-4 flowers each along the length of the stem. The fruits are bright red berries 

about 1/3 in (1 cm) long that are borne on narrow stalks. They mature during 

late summer and fall and persist through the winter. 

NOTE: Japanese barberry may be confused with American barberry (Berberis 

canadensis), the only native species of barberry in North America, and 

common or European barberry (Berberis vulgaris) which is an introduced, 

sometimes invasive plant. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT 

Japanese barberry forms dense stands in natural habitats including canopy 

forests, open woodlands, wetlands, pastures, and meadows and alters soil pH, nitrogen levels, and biological activity in 

the soil. Once established, barberry displaces native plants and reduces wildlife habitat and forage. White-tailed deer 

apparently avoid browsing barberry, preferring to feed on native plants, giving barberry a competitive advantage. In New 

Jersey, Japanese barberry has been found to raise soil pH (i.e., make it more basic) and reduce the depth of the litter 

layer in forests. 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 

Japanese barberry has been reported to be invasive in twenty states and the 

District of Columbia. Due to its ornamental interest, barberry is still widely 

propagated and sold by nurseries for landscaping purposes in many parts of 

the U.S. 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES 

Barberry is shade tolerant, drought resistant, and adaptable to a variety of 

open and wooded habitats, wetlands and disturbed areas. It prefers to grow in 

full sun to part shade but will flower and fruit even in heavy shade. 

BACKGROUND 

Japanese barberry was introduced to the U.S. and New England as an ornamental plant in 1875 in the form of seeds sent 

from Russia to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1896, barberry shrubs grown from these seeds were 

planted at the New York Botanic Garden. Japanese barberry was later promoted as a substitute for common barberry 

(Berberis vulgaris) which was planted by settlers for hedgerows, dye and jam, and later found to be a host for the black 

stem grain rust. Because Japanese barberry has been cultivated for ornamental purposes for many years, a number of 

cultivars exist. 
20 May 2005 Page 2 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

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BIOLOGY & SPREAD 

Japanese barberry spreads by seed and by vegetative expansion. Barberry produces large numbers of seeds which have 

a high germination rate, estimated as high as 90%. Barberry seed is transported to new locations with the help of birds 

(e.g., turkey and ruffed grouse) and small mammals which eat it. Birds frequently disperse seed while perched on 

powerlines or on trees at forest edges. Vegetative spread is through branches touching the ground that can root to form 

new plants and root fragments remaining in the soil that can sprout to form new plants. 

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 

Do not plant Japanese barberry. Because it is a prolific seed-producer with a high germination rate, prevention of seed 

production should be a management priority. Because barberry can resprout from root fragments remaining in soil, 

thorough removal of root portions is important. Manual control works well but may need to be combined with chemical in 

large or persistent infestions. 

Biological 

No biological control organisms are available for this plant. 

Chemical 

Treatments using the systemic herbicides glyphosate (e.g., Roundup®) and triclopyr (e.g., Garlon®) have been effective 

in managing Japanese barberry infestations that are too large for hand pulling. For whole plant treatment, apply a 2% 

solution of glyphosate mixed with water and a surfactant. This non-selective herbicide should be used with care to avoid 

impacting non-target native plants. Application early in the season before native vegetation has matured may minimize 

non-target impacts. However, application in late summer during fruiting may be most effective. Triclopyr or glyphosphate 

may be used on cut stumps or as a basal bark application in a 25% solution with water, covering the outer 20% of the 

stump. 

Manual 

Because Japanese barberry leafs out early, it is easy to identify and begin removal efforts in early spring. Small plants can 

be pulled by hand, using thick gloves to avoid injury from the spines. The root system is shallow making it easy to pull 

plants from the ground, and it is important to get the entire root system. The key is to pull when the soil is damp and loose. 

Young plants can be dug up individually using a hoe or shovel. Hand pulling and using a shovel to remove plants up to 

about 3 ft high is effective if the root system is loosened up around the primary tap root first before digging out the whole 

plant. 

Mechanical 

Mechanical removal using a hoe or Weed Wrench® can be very effective and may pose the least threat to non-target 

species and the general environment at the site. Tools like the Weed Wrench® are helpful for uprooting larger or older 

shrubs. Shrubs can also be mowed or cut repeatedly. If time does not allow for complete removal of barberry plants at a 

site, mowing or cutting in late summer prior to seed production is advisable. 

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: Always read the entire pesticide label carefully, follow all mixing and application instructions and wear all 

recommended personal protective gear and clothing. Contact your state department of agriculture for any additional pesticide use 

requirements, restrictions or recommendations. 

NOTICE: mention of pesticide products on this page does not constitute endorsement of any material.

CONTACTS 

For more information on the management of Japanese barberry, please contact: 

• Ian Shackleford, Ottawa National Forest, E6248 U.S.2, Ironwood, MI 49938; (906) 932-1330 x508 

• Jessica Murray, Ecological Restoration Coordinator, Berkshire Taconic Landscape Program, The Nature 

Conservancy, PO Box 268, Sheffield, MA 01262; (413) 229-0232 x228; jmurray at tnc.org 

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PLANTS 

Many attractive native shrubs are available that make great substitutes for Japanese barberry. A few examples include 

bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), ink-berry (Ilex glabra), winterberry (Ilex verticillata), arrow-wood (Viburnum dentatum), 

mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) and hearts-a-bustin' (Euonymus americana). Please 

check with your state native plant nursery for suggestions for plants appropriate to your area. 
20 May 2005 Page 3 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

OTHER LINKS 

• http://www.invasive.org/search/action.cfm?q=Berberis%20thunbergii 

• http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=26

AUTHOR 

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Center for Urban Ecology, Washington, DC 

REVIEWERS 

Sylvan Kaufman, Conservation Curator, Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely, MD 

PHOTOGRAPH 

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Center for Urban Ecology, Washington, DC 

REFERENCES 

Ehrenfeld, J. G. 1997. Invasion of deciduous forest preserves in the New York metropolitan region by Japanese barberry 

(Berberis thunbergii DC.) Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 124: 210-215. 

Ehrenfeld, J. G. 1999. Structure and dynamics of populations of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC.) in deciduous 

forests of New Jersey. Biological Invasions 1: 203-213. 

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England. 2004. University of Connecticut. 

http://webapps.lib.uconn.edu/ipane/browsing.cfm?descriptionid=26 

Kourtev, P.S., W. Z. Huang, and J. G. Ehrenfeld. 1999. Differences in earthworm densities and nitrogen dynamics in soils 

under exotic and native plant species. Biological Invasions 1: 237-245. 

McDonald, Brian (personal communication with Sylvan Kaufman). 

Rhoads, A.F. and T. Blcok. 2002. Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC.). Morris Arboretum of the University of 

Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA. 3 pp. 

Shackleford, Ian (personal communication with Sylvan Kaufman). 

Silander, J. A. and D. M. Klepeis. 1999. The invasion ecology of Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) in the New 

England landscape. Biological Invasions 1: 189-201. 

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Japanese Barberry 

(Berberis thunbergii). http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=3010. 

USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA.