Yet another state bans this noxious shrub. What is wrong with the Japanese barberry?

Japanese barberry is a “popular, non-native, ornamental shrub” that you can often find in nurseries, but yet another state is banning it.

The newest state to announce a phased banning of the plant is Pennsylvania, according to a Nov. 12 news release from the state’s Department of Agriculture. This news comes after the department added Japanese barberry, or Berberis thunbergii, to its list of noxious weeds.

It is illegal to sell or cultivate plants on that list.

“Japanese barberry was originally brought to the U.S. from Japan and eastern Asia in the 1800s to be planted as an ornamental,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. “It is widely used as a landscape shrub because of its fall coloring and resistance to deer.”

So, what’s wrong with Japanese barberry?

There’s a reason Pennsylvania joins a list of states that have banned Japanese barberry, including Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire and New York.

The plant — a “prolific invader” — takes over and disrupts native ecosystems with its “dense, prickly thickets,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. It has been known to spread into woodlands, pastures and fields.

Officials also believe black-legged ticks, which spread lyme disease, sometimes call the plant home.

“Many seemingly attractive plants can actually harm our environment, our food supply and our health,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Pennsylvania does not take banning the sale of a plant lightly. Prevention is the best alternative — choosing native plants that harbor pollinators and allow a healthy, natural ecosystem. Carefully considering the potential impact of what we plant can prevent lasting damage that is difficult, expensive or impossible to reverse.”

Pennsylvania’s ban on Japanese barberry

A ban on selling and cultivating the shrub officially began Oct. 8, though Pennsylvania is implementing a phased timeline as it begins enforcing the ban. This was created to give nurseries and garden stores time to prepare.

Starting this November, the Department of Agriculture is sending notices to nurseries and landscape businesses to decrease inventory of the shrub.

In fall 2022, the department says it will send warning letters to any plant merchants still selling Japanese barberry. The letter will say all “remaining inventory will be subject to a destruction order” by a certain date in fall 2023.

In fall 2023, merchants selling the shrub will receive “Stop Sale and destruction orders,” according to the news release.

The state is also asking property owners to consider removing Japanese barberry from their properties.

This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Yet another state bans this noxious shrub. What is wrong with the Japanese barberry?."