Japanese barberry

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is an invasive species of concernhttp://mdinvasives.org/archive/list_terrestrial_plants.html in Marylandhttps://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/japanese-barberry, native to Japanhttp://mdinvasives.org/archive/archived_invaders/archived_invaders_2006_12.html. It spreads rapidly in much of the eastern US, and has been prohibited from sale in Massachusetts and Michigan, but is not yet designated a noxious weed in Marylandhttps://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=beth.
== Identification ==
Japanese barberry is a small deciduous shrub with spiny branches, pale yellow flowers, and red or orange berries. Depending on cultivar, leaf color may range widely in color, from yellow to red to to green to violet.
Though it can be confused with the native American barberry or the somewhat less invasive European barberry, the Japanese species can be distinguished by its flowers. They grow in umbrella-shaped clusters called umbels, whereas other barberries have stalk-like flower clusters called racemes.
== Health Concerns ==
Because its dense foliage traps humidity, it is an ideal breeding place for deer ticks, which may spread Lyme disease.https://www.outsideonline.com/1915071/rise-tick?page=all
== Resources for Removal ==
* Getting Rid of Japanese Barberry: Why and How from the Virginia Native Plant Society
* Getting Rid of the Barberry from the EPA Blog
== References ==
Category:Invasive Species of Concern
Category:Shrubs