There is the pygmy ruby cultivar but i dont know if it is sterile.

Pygmy Ruby Barberry

Non-invasive cultivars of any plant have an unfortunate habit of becoming invasive through cross breeding very quickly once planted in the landscape. The "non-invasive" loosestrife that appeared with much fanfare some years ago is a good example. Many, many shrubs can be beautiful accent shrubs. Not sure of where you are located, but a visit to O'Donals, Estabrooks, Skillens, or another large Maine nursery will reveal a number of them. The staffs will also be happy to make suggestions, I'm sure.

As for the tick issue, anything that provides cover for mice is potentially a link in the Lyme disease chain. In this case, barberry is probably getting an undeserved bad rap. Eliminate all potential mouse habitat and you would wind up in a moonscape. There are other steps that can be taken in areas with serious tick, deer, Lyme problems.

The cultivar 'Concorde' has very low fruit set or is sterile- having used it for over eight years now we have never seen it fruit. Deep purple foliage and slowly growing to a 2' tall and wide mound. I think some of the states that are concerned about the invasiveness of barberry recommend using this one.

Ones to stay away from are the Carousel series- they set incredible amounts of fruit.

Due to the thorns and annual pruning requirements (along with the invasive potential) are you sure you want to go this route? We have switched over to dwarf weigelas, smaller ninebarks, coral bells, etc.... there are many landscape plants that will give you the great color without the invasive potential and without getting stabbed in the hand every spring!

Like Select, for red-leafed shrubs I use dwarf weigelas, smaller ninebarks such as 'Tiny Wine' as well as some of the darker small-leafed rhododendrons, and dark-leafed perennial Geraniums. For gold shrubs I use Spirea 'Ogon', Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls' and Caryopteris 'Sunshine Blue'.

Having grown up with a barberry hedge and being well aware of its tendency to collect leaves, blown litter, etc and the difficulty of maintaining something that thorny, I would have no temptation to plant it even if I weren't already removing volunteers from my woods.

Thank you everyone. I've decided not to plant a barberry. I just bought Ogon and it looks like a great alternative:)