It's not evergreen but it is a frightening plant, even more so when out of leaf......Poncirus trifoliata, hardy orange. This has some seriously wicked thorns and makes an excellent hedge or barrier plant.

Here is a link that might be useful: Poncirus trifoliata

I'll second the hardy orange.
I have one and planted it out of the way, because, I will admit it, it scares me.
They are usually sold at nurseries and love sun.
Buy them.

Rosa rugosa

barbarry

picea pungens.. but it might not like your zone ...

check on the others also

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: rosa

By all means, plant that fine Southeastern native--the yucca, or Spanish bayonet. Or do as Jonathan Swift suggested in "A Modest Proposal"; throw them into a bubbling cauldron and prepare a fine, succulent baby stew. Then, invite the neighbors over for supper.

poncirus was also my first thought as probably the most wicked, thorny plant but, if you must have evergreen, try pyracantha or firethorn bush. they grow very fast and are much more attractive to me than hardy orange. i have seen a couple of them in natural areas in east-central alabama so check your state's list of invasive species before using them. this link is from a florida website and they do not mention that so perhaps it has not escaped cultivation down there.

Here is a link that might be useful: floridata - pyracantha

Now you see?? Everyone has different taste! I find the appearance of the hardy orange much more interesting than the pyracantha, especially when it's nekkid. Wild looking plant! And you can at least eat the oranges......or cook with 'em. And it smells good.

Wow, you guys are very funny! I will research all of the information and see what I come up with.

Thanks a bunch!

I second the pyracantha firethorn. I have the cultivar Mojave planted all along my back fence. I can see it from my kitchen window and in the winter time all that green and all those orange/red berries really lift my spirits. Do be careful of the thorns though.

Alexis

About how large & long are the thorns on Pyracantha? Hard to tell in online photos, and I'm considering getting one or two for our backyard but would like to gauge what risk it'd pose to our 2 pugs & 1 Jack Russell's.

If it's like a Japanese Barberry, then I doubt it's much of a problem. If it's like a Honey Locust tree, no way! I don't like those things being around ME...

Richard.

Wintergreen barberry.

Prickly rose or really any rose bush. They grow into huge bushes and will need to be trimmed.

Keep in mind that Poncirus trifoliata is borderline invasive in TN and surrounding states. I would avoid it for ecological reasons if possible.

Ok, I am leaning toward the Pyracantha coccinea (Firethorn, because I want to have plenty of birds. I have read they like the berries on the Firethorn, but I have called some nurseries and so far no one has them.

Are there any particular places that I might be able to order these online maybe? Like in a pot and not just a twig to stick in the ground and wait 5 years?

Thanks

Forestfarm and Sooner Plant Farm both carry cultivars of Pyracantha coccinea. Although not listed as invasive in any part of TN, it is becoming invasive in parts of middle to upper GA. Makes me wonder if it could also be a problem here as temperatures warm. Another thing that I'm not sure of is how manageable it would be as a yard shrub. This plant is usually used as an espalier. My parents have one growing alongside their house and it requires regular attention to keep it in check so that they can mow near that part of their house. It grows huge pendulous branches out into their yard that make passing by that area hazardous.

I'd at least give some consideration to native plants like:
- One of the native blackberry/raspberry species (Rubus spp.)
- thorny Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) - this is one mean plant!
- Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia)
- Rose bush (native or non-native)

I would bet that coppiced honeylocust could make a good solid impenetrable barrier. Keeping them in check (from coming up in the rest of your yard) might be an issue, and if you use a riding mower, flat tires, would almost be a guarantee. They would however be fine for the environment and, once established, should quickly become a definite barrier. I have no idea how available cuttings of the thorny variety would be.

Pyracantha coccinea seeds out in the Seattle area also.

And is often scabby, as are various other firethorns. You have to select carefully for disease resistance (and hardiness) when shopping firethorns.

And the flowers still stink, even when you avoid disease and cold injury.

Wintergreen barberry also has a strong floral odor, but it is not as stale? fishy? to me as that of firethorns.

Another good one is warty barberry.

Here is a link that might be useful: Speaking of forestfarm

Ok, Ok, :-)

You guys/gals are very helpful. I will have to do more research then on the other suggestions.

Thanks again and I will keep you updated.

In your zone you can probably plant some hardy citranges and citrumelos and get the thorns, evergreen foliage as well as fruit (unless the fruit will attract even more foot traffic!

I wonder if only certain firethorn flowers stink? Mine don't at all. Their fragrance is so light that unless your noise is right in it you can't smell anything.

People vary in what they smell. Firethorns have the same kind of floral odor as cotoneasters, mountain ash trees and other unpleasantly scented rose family trees and shrubs. Probably the most noticeable and notorious example is the pear tree. These reek in bloom, have been encountered by many due to the heavy planting of Callery pear cultivars as ornamentals on streets and in malls etc.

If you are interested in Hollies, There are many with wonderfully sharp edges...
Blue prince and blue princess holly will grow nicely as long as they get some shade, full florida sun is tough on them in summer. If you want them to berry, you must buy at least one prince and one princess.
Mary nell holly will grow fast and tall. my six inch pots grew to 20 ft in six years! birds love them also!
I had these in Ocala FL, so if you are similar in temp and rain, they will grow.
Also pampas grass. That stuff will slice you where you need stitches (first hand knowledge!), and florida saw palmetto - I find it ugly, but it does well and has nice prickly leaves...

Kayef......You guys are good. I am doing my research and appreciate your input. I didn't know that the Mary Nell holly was considered a native species.

Those little thorns on the leaf edges are FLESH TEARING right? Or are they soft? I need to keep "teenagers" out of my yard!
lol

Payday is almost here (Friday) and I am getting excited!! hehehe

'Mary Nell' is a hybrid, not a species. It is a lusterleaf holly (Ilex latifolia) crossed with a hybrid of Burford holly (I. cornuta 'Burfordii') x 'Red Delight' perny holly (I. pernyi 'Red Delight').

Its leaves really have a beautiful sheen.

Here's wintergreen barbrerry today in my bank's parking lot. It seems to be a really tough, barrier plant. We're looking at last year's foliage. Flowers are fragrant.

Will this one be spread around by birds like the other Asian barberries? If so it gets marked off the list.

I've found berberis julianae growing wild in northern Virginia.

Yes, sam_md, that's what I was thinking 'cause I had several. Pretty, rather early yellow flowers -- viscous thorns. On mine, every little fruit (hundreds of them) fell off well before maturing -- ground was littered w/them.