Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Ranunculales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Berberis thunbergii
FAMILY
Berberidaceae
Go to FSUS key
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Check out EDDMapS.org to see where this has been reported.
Learn more about Japanese Barberry from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
Berberis thunbergii is immune to wheat rust; it is now the most commonly encountered barberry in much of our area, per Weakley's Flora (2022)
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Berberis thunbergii
FAMILY
Berberidaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Berberis thunbergii
SYNONYMOUS WITH Flora of North America
Berberis thunbergii
SYNONYMOUS WITH VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 077-01-002:
Berberis thunbergii FAMILY Berberidaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Berberis thunbergii
COMMON NAME:
Japanese Barberry
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
JK Marlow jkm150927_205
September Henderson County NC
Bearwallow Mountain
Fruit a pendant red berry, borne singly or 2-3 per cluster, per Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge (Lance).
)
JK Marlow jkm150927_207
September Henderson County NC
Bearwallow Mountain
Single spines emerge from the point where leaf and branch join, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
JK Marlow jkm150927_208
September Henderson County NC
Bearwallow Mountain
Small, smooth-edged leaves cluster close along branches, per Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007).
)
JK Marlow jkm190905_1346
September Greenville County SC
Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area
Alternate lvs borne in fascicles on spur shoots, usually subtended by a thorn, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968).
)
JK Marlow jkm190905_1348
September Greenville County SC
Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area
)
JK Marlow jkm190905_1350
September Greenville County SC
Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area
)
Paul Thompson pstberberis_thunbergii
September?
The leaves are reddish-purple; the wood is yellow. — Clemson Extension
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_1237091b
Month Unknown
Inflorescences umbellate, 1-5 flowered, 1-1.5cm, per Flora of North America.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5456789
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5456790
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5456883
Month Unknown
Most commonly encountered barberry in much of our area (immune to wheat rust), per Weakley's Flora.
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5456980
Month Unknown
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5457021
Month Unknown
Spines mostly unbranched, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004).
)
Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org bug_5457074
Month Unknown
)
Wendy Klooster, Ohio State University OARDC, Bugwood.org bug_5486195
Month Unknown
Cultivation of B. thunbergii is illegal in Canada, per Flora of North America.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US (4/24/22):
Berberis thunbergii
FAMILY
Berberidaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Berberis thunbergii
FAMILY
Berberidaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Floristic Synthesis of North America. BONAP (Kartesz, 2021)
Berberis thunbergii
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Flora of North America
Berberis thunbergii
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 077-01-002:
Berberis thunbergii
FAMILY
Berberidaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
Manual of the Southeastern Flora (Small, 1933, 1938)
Berberis thunbergii
197
Shrub
Perennial
Habitat: Rich forests, old fields, per Weakley's Flora
Non-native: Japan
Uncommon in Carolina Mountains & NC Piedmont (rare elsewhere in GA-NC-SC)
CLICK HERE to see a map, notes, and images from Weakley's Flora of the Southeastern US.
This plant is causing problems in natural areas outside its native range, according to authorities such as:
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council, 2012
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2006
- Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2013
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council
- SC Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2014
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2009
- US Fish & Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service Southern Research Station
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 2014
IS THE PLANT "ARMED"?
Stems armed w mostly unbranched nodal spine(s)
LEAVES:
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate
FLOWER:
Spring
Yellow
Radially symmetrical
3-merous
6 sepals
6 petals
6 stamens
Superior ovary
Bisexual
FRUIT:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Red
Berry
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification, Impacts and Control (Kaufman & Kaufman, 2007) p133
- A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests (Miller, Chambliss, & Lowenstein, 2010) p040
- Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast (Foote & Jones, 1989) p059
- Newcomb's Wildflower Guide (Newcomb, 1977) p354
- Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Georgia (Chafin, 2007) p065
- Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge (Lance) p31
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide (Lance, 2004) p074
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