Japanese Barberry

Scientific name: Berberis thunbergii DC.

Common names: Japanese barberry

Native To: Japan (Zouhar 2008)

Date of U.S. Introduction: 1875 (DeGasperis et al. 2007)

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Means of Introduction: Introduced as an ornamental and promoted as a replacement for common barberry (Berberis vulgaris), which is a host for black stem rust (Zouhar 2008)

Impact: Forms dense stands that compete with native trees and herbaceous plants (Ward et al. 2009)

Current U.S. Distribution: Eastern and Midwestern U.S.

• PLANTS Database Map (see complete PLANTS Profile for county distribution and native status)
• Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (county distribution for Southeastern States)

U.S. States and U.S. National Parks Where Reported Invasive: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States map

Management Plans: Plants

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Federal Government

Berberis thunbergii DC.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Berberis thunbergii Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research

Berberis thunbergii - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program.
Taxonomy; Legal Aspects

Japanese Barberry - Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies (2004; PDF | 395 KB)
USDA. Forest Service.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls

Japanese Barberry - Invasive Plants Field and Reference Guide (PDF | 131 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat

Japanese Barberry - Weed of the Week (Jun 13, 2005; PDF | 194 KB)
USDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Berberis thunbergii - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS)
USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Japanese Barberry - An Expanded Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests (Aug 2008; PDF | 49 KB)
USDA. FS. Southern Research Station.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Habitat; Dispersion

Japanese Barberry - Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas (2002)
DOI. National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Controls

Japanese Barberry - Invasive Species Identification Sheet (Nov 2002; PDF | 152 KB)
USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs

Plant Profile for Berberis thunbergii - PLANTS Database
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center.
Taxonomy; Photographs; Distribution; Legal Aspects

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Controls

Japanese Barberry and European Barberry
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Invasive Exotic Plant Tutorial for Natural Lands Managers.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Special Note: Species Management and Control Information

Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry) - Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
University of Connecticut. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Japanese Barberry - Invasive Plants of the United States: Identification, Biology and Control
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health; USDA. Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History

Japanese Barberry - Maine Invasive Plants Bulletin no. 2504
University of Maine. Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Japanese Barberry - Introduced Species Summary Project
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Japanese Barberry - Going Native: Urban Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants
North Carolina State University. North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Controls

Japanese Barberry (PDF | 130 KB)
University of Pennsylvania. Morris Arboretum.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Berberis thunbergii (shrub) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Berberis thunbergii, Japanese barberry - Invader of the Month (Apr 2006; PDF | 108 KB)
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

Japanese Barberry - Target Invasive Species (PDF | 194 KB)
D&R Greenway Land Trust (New Jersey).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Japanese barberry
Invasive.org.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution

Invader of the Month - Japanese Barberry (Dec 2006)
Maryland Invasive Species Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Biobullies - Japanese Barberry (PDF | 1.84 MB)
Natural Biodiversity (Pennsylvania).
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Dispersion; Controls

Invasive Plant Fact Sheet: Japanese Barberry
Nature Conservancy Connecticut Chapter; Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Japanese Barberry
Plant Conservation Alliance. Alien Plant Working Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Japanese Barberry - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Citations

DeGasperis, B.G., and G. Motzkin. 2007. Windows of Opportunity: Historical and Ecological Controls on Berberis thunbergii Invasions. Ecology 88(12):3115-3125.

Ward, J.S., T.E. Worthley, and S.C. Williams. 2009. Controlling Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC) in southern New England, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 257(2): 561-566.

Zouhar, Kris. 2008. Berberis thunbergii. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).