Species Management and Control Information

Japanese barberry and European barberry
Berberis thunbergii DC. and Berberis vulgaris L.

MANUAL AND MECHANICAL CONTROL:

Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership (DRIPP) - Invasive Plant Fact Sheets - Japanese barberry - http://www.paflora.org/DRIPP.html - Authors: Ann F. Rhoads and Timothy A. Block - April 2002.

Small plants can be hand pulled any time of the year (heavy gloves are recommended due to the sharp prickles). Mowing and cutting will also reduce seed formation, but regrowth will occur.

Plant Conservation Alliance - Alien Plant Working Group - Weeds Gone Wild - Fact sheet - Japanese barberry - http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/beth1.htm - Author: Jil M. Swearingen - September 14, 2004.

Because Japanese barberry leafs out early, it is easy to identify and begin removal efforts in early spring. Small plants can be pulled by hand, using thick gloves to avoid injury from the spines. The root system is shallow making it easy to pull plants from the ground, and it is important to get the entire root system. The key is to pull when the soil is damp and loose. Young plants can be dug up individually using a hoe or shovel. Hand pulling and using a shovel to remove plants up to about 3 ft high is effective if the root system is loosened up around the primary tap root first before digging out the whole plant.

Mechanical removal using a hoe or Weed Wrench ® can be very effective and may pose the least threat to non-target species and the general environment at the site. Tools like the Weed Wrench ® are helpful for uprooting larger or older shrubs. Shrubs can also be mowed or cut repeatedly. If time does not allow for complete removal of barberry plants at a site, mowing or cutting in late summer prior to seed production is advisable.

Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council - Invasive Plant Manual - Japanese barberry - http://www.se-eppc.org/manual/barberry.html -2003

Hand Pull: This method of control is effective for small populations of Japanese barberry, since plants pull up easily in most forested habitats. Hand-pulling is an extremely effective method of reducing population and seed productivity; this can be done during most of the year. Barberry is especially easy to see in the winter and early spring before deciduous plants leaf out. If plants have fruit present, they should be bagged and disposed of to prevent seed dispersal. Care should be taken to minimize soil disturbance.

Mowing/Cutting: This method is appropriate for initial small populations or environmentally sensitive areas where herbicides cannot be used. Repeated mowing or cutting will control the spread of Japanese barberry but will not eradicate it. Stems should be cut at least once per growing season as close to ground level as possible. Hand-cutting of established clumps is difficult and time consuming due to the long arching stems and prolific thorns.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Nonnative Plant Fact Sheets - Japanese barberry - http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/invasive/nonnative.htm#aquatics

Mechanical removal of the plant is recommended in early spring because barberry is one of the first shrubs to leaf out, thereby making identification easier. Cutting, pulling or digging are effective in areas where there are only a few plants. A hoe, weed wrench, or mattock should be used to uproot the bush and all connected roots. Thick gloves are recommended for protection from the shrub's spines.

PRESCRIBED FIRE:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Nonnative Plant Fact Sheets - Japanese barberry - http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/invasive/nonnative.htm#aquatics

Japanese barberry may be relatively easy to control in fire-adapted communities. Fire is thought to kill these plants and prevent future establishment.

BIOCONTROL:

Plant Conservation Alliance - Alien Plant Working Group - Weeds Gone Wild - Fact sheet - Japanese barberry - http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/beth1.htm - Author: Jil M. Swearingen - September 14, 2004.

No biological control organisms are available for this plant.

CHEMICAL CONTROL*:

Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership (DRIPP) - Invasive Plant Fact Sheets - Japanese barberry - http://www.paflora.org/DRIPP.html - Authors: Ann F. Rhoads and Timothy A. Block - April 2002.

Foliar sprays with a 2% solution of glyphosate or triclopyr are effective. In addition the practices of cutting followed by treatment of cut stumps with 25% glyphosate or triclopyr in water can be employed at any time except when the ground is frozen.

Plant Conservation Alliance - Alien Plant Working Group - Weeds Gone Wild - Fact sheet - Japanese barberry - http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/beth1.htm - Author: Jil M. Swearingen - September 14, 2004.

Treatments using the systemic herbicides glyphosate (e.g., Roundup) and triclopyr (e.g., Garlon) have been effective in managing Japanese barberry infestations that are too large for hand pulling. For whole plant treatment, apply a 2% solution of glyphosate mixed with water and a surfactant. This non-selective herbicide should be used with care to avoid impacting non-target native plants. Application early in the season before native vegetation has matured may minimize non-target impacts. However, application in late summer during fruiting may be most effective. Triclopyr or glyphosphate may be used on cut stumps or as a basal bark application in a 25% solution with water, covering the outer 20% of the stump.

Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council - Invasive Plant Manual - Japanese barberry - http://www.se-eppc.org/manual/barberry.html -2003

Foliar Spray Method: This method should be considered for large thickets of barberry where risk to non-target species is minimal. Air temperature should be above 65°F to ensure absorption of herbicides.