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Japanese Barberry Berberis Thunbergii

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Japanese Barberry Berberis Thunbergii Invasive Species—Best Control Practices Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan Natural Features Inventory 2/2012 Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry is native to Japan, and was introduced to the United States in the late 1800s as an ornamental plant. It is used widely as landscape material, due in part to its resistance to deer browsing. Where deer numbers are high, palatable native species are replaced by barberry. It thrives both in full sun and deep shade. Like many non-native shrubs, it leafs out early, retains its leaves late into fall and forms dense thickets, shading out native plants. Japanese barberry benefits from high nitrogen availability. It appears to have a complex relationship with non-native earthworms, which are associated with increased soil nitrifi- cation and break down litter rapidly. On sites where barber- ry is controlled, earthworm densities are reduced. Recently, barberry has been implicated in the spread of Lyme disease. Researchers have noted higher densities of adult deer ticks and white-footed deer mice under barberry than under native shrubs. Deer mice, the larval host, have higher levels of larval tick infestation and more of the adult ticks are infected with Lyme disease. When barberry is controlled, fewer mice and ticks are present and infection rates drop. Steve Manning, Invasive Plant Control, Bugwood.org Identification Flowers: Habit: Japanese barberry has tiny, Japanese barberry is a spiny, deciduous shrub, with arching pale yellow, dangling flowers branches. Typically, it is about 0.6 - 0.9m (2-3 ft) tall, although with six petal-like sepals and it can reach 1.8m (6 ft) in height. 6 smaller petals. They hang singly or in clusters of 2 to Leaves: 4 blossoms from the nodes. Japanese barberry has small Leslie J. Mehrhoff, They are insect pollinated and oval to spoon shaped leaves University of Connecticut bloom in April and May. with smooth margins. They are arranged in clusters along Fruits/Seeds: the stem and turn red in fall. Barberry fruits are small, Cultivars are available in bright red, egg-shaped ber- chartreuse and burgundy. James H. Miller, USDA ries with dry flesh that are While many cultivars do not Forest Service, Bugwood.org about 1 cm (0.4 in) long. They produce flowers or fruit, burgundy leaved plants have ripen in midsummer but begun to appear in woodlands. remain on stems into winter. Fruits are dispersed by deer Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bark/Stems: and birds. Bugwood.org Barberry’s arching stems are deeply grooved, with single Habitat: spines at each node. Its twigs Japanese barberry tolerates a wide range of soil and mois- and young stems turn reddish ture conditions and is extremely shade tolerant. It is found brown in winter and the older along woodland edges, roadsides, stream banks, old fields stems are gray. The inner bark and forests. It may be more common and abundant in for- James H. Miller, USDA and wood are yellow. ests that were pastured or farmed in the past. Forest Service, Bugwood.org 1 Similar species Planning a control program Common barberry Resources for invasive species control invariably fall short of The non-native invasive the actual need, so it is important to prioritize sites for treat- common barberry (Berberis ment and plan carefully. Assessing the scope of the problem vulgaris) has finely toothed is a critical first step: leaves and may reach 3 m (10 • Map known Japanese barberry populations; ft) in height. It was eradicated • Does it occur in high quality habitat, important rec- from large parts of its range reational, hunting or fishing lands? Other high value including Michigan, as it is a Leslie J. Mehrhoff, sites? host to black stem grain rust. University of Connecticut • Are other woody invasives present that should be American barberry treated simultaneously? American barberry (B. canadensis), has toothed leaves and • Is there a pool of volunteers available to assist with con- usually three pronged spines. Its flowers hang in clusters trol? Or will efforts rely on paid staff or contractors? suspended from a central stem, rather than attaching direct- Given this information, develop a strategy for control: ly to the twig, as is the case in Japanese barberry. It is native south of Michigan. 1. Prioritize high value sites where success can be achieved for treatment. Reproduction/Dispersal 2. Select appropriate control methods, considering site Japanese barberry reproduces by seed, by clonal shoots conditions, available resources and any other woody below ground and by the tips of its branches, which root invasives that might be present. While barberry is easy freely where they touch the ground. The shrub will also to kill, if other more challenging species are present, it resprout vigorously when damaged by cutting or fire. Fruit may be best to select methods that will control them production is highest on sites in full sun, but plants in shade also. will also produce fruit. 3. If using herbicide, be sure to read the product label Seeds benefit from a period of cold or alternating low tem- before finalizing plans. Is there potential for harm to peratures but some will germinate without it. Seeds that non-target species? Have you made adequate provi- have begun to germinate are vulnerable to freezing tem- sions to minimize damage? peratures, however. Germination rates fall off dramatically 4. Do these control methods require any permits (i.e. her- after one year, suggesting that barberry does not develop a bicide application in wetlands, prescribed burning)? large or persistent seedbank. 5. Prevent further dispersal; focus on mature plants, par- Most fruits fall directly below the shrub but some individu- ticularly those in full sun with abundant fruit. als have been noted in undisturbed forests several kilome- 6. Eradicate smaller satellite populations nearby that may ters from any seed source, demonstrating that longer range provide a source of seed for re-invasion. dispersal is possible. Ground dwelling birds may be more significant dispersal agents than songbirds. The fruit persists 7. Treat larger core infestations of lower value as on the branches until late in winter and appears to be eaten resources permit. when preferred foods are no longer available. Historically, 8. Monitor to ensure desired results are being achieved; Japanese barberry established readily in pastures, as it was adapt management to improve success. avoided by livestock. It then spread into nearby woodlands. Best survey period Seedlings may grow up to 1.2 m (4 ft) in a single season Like many invasive shrubs, Japanese barberry typically leafs when light, moisture and nutrients are abundant. They may out early in spring and retains its leaves late into fall, making only produce a single stem for several years or send up mul- it most visible at these times. It is also conspicuous when in tiple shoots, depending on moisture and light availability. fruit. Its low, sprawling profile and narrow sharp spines are Seedling mortality is highest during summer months distinctive and make it readily identifiable in any season. Since old stems die off and are replaced periodically, it is Documenting occurrences difficult to determine the age of individual plants. Mortality In order to track the spread of an invasive species on a appears to be highest for plants with only one or two stems landscape scale, it is important to report populations where and/or stems that are less than 50 cm (20 in) long. Barberry they occur. The Midwest Invasive Species Information Net- seedling survival and plant growth vary with light availabil- work (MISIN) has an easy-to-use interactive online mapping ity. Biomass per unit area is positively correlated with both system. It accepts reports of invasive species’ locations from light and moisture availability. Invasive Species—Best Control Practices 2 3 users who have completed a simple, online training module crown. Its spiny stems and arching branches make cutting for the species being reported. It also offers the potential for difficult. Mowing can be used effectively as the first step of a batch uploading of occurrence data for any invasive species. two part control effort when resprouts are treated with Herbaria also provide a valuable and authoritative record of herbicide or burned with a propane torch later in the season. plant distribution. The University of Michigan Herbarium’s database can be searched online for county records of Chemical control occurrence, for example. When Japanese barberry is first While mechanical control is a viable option for some encountered in a county where it had not been known pre- Japanese barberry infestations, herbicides offer additional viously, specimens should be submitted to the Herbarium advantages, particularly for large robust populations where to document its presence. Check the “Online Resources” little native vegetation is present. Factors that should be section for links to both of these resources. considered when selecting an herbicide for use on a par- ticular site include proximity to water or wetlands, presence Control or absence of desirable native vegetation, potential for ero- sion and the effectiveness of the herbicide under consid- A primary goal in controlling this species is to prevent eration. Because barberry remains green much later than seed production and dispersal. In general, plants in full sun many native species, fall treatment may minimize damage produce more seed than those in shade and should be to desirable plants. prioritized for control. Control efforts in spring and fall while desirable native species are dormant may minimize harmful General considerations impacts. A variety of techniques including both mechanical Anyone applying herbicides as part of their employment and chemical controls may be most effective and should be must become a certified pesticide applicator. In addition, tailored to the specific conditions on the site.
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