as some B are invasive.. are you 100% sure on the ID???

whether any plant is 'invasive' or not ... IMO... not many things they self sow themselves around.. are valuable plants .... sooner or later.. these will mature.. and restart the cycle ...

ken

The thorns have been described as ' vicious'. I wouldn't make a place for it in my garden.

Deer don't touch it. The suburbs of northern VA were developed with strips of green space and pocket parks. This has resulted in a very high population of deer. They clear out the under story in the green areas and eat the landscaping around the houses. In cold winters they eat most shrubs including hollies. It isn't possible to hunt them due to the close proximity of the houses.

BJ resembles a holly and grows in dry shade. It would do nicely along the back of a property bordering the green space. Yes, the thorns are astonishing and you wouldn't site this plant near a deck or patio. I'm growing lots of non-natives that seed modestly and I yank the seedlings. If anyone has grown BJ and can comment on it's reproductive tendencies, I'd like to hear that. Thanks in advance.

From a quick google search it seems like a nice shrub, but watch the thorns! Most berberis do have vicious thorns.

Thank you Kentrees, that's exactly what I was looking for. It will get the shovel.

I may look for some of these. I am a big fan of barberries, and even have one named after me (see the CCCR website) but it hasn't been released to the public yet (I am still watching it).

On the other hand, in zone 7a, it is one sturdy shrub that is evergreen that is not going to be bothered by deer. It is easily sheared to fit a space. Works in sun or part sun.

Roses are thorny too, but that doesn't keep people from growing them.

I think B. julianae has a lot of merits. Also, yellow blooms are not unattractive.

Rose growers are masochists.

I inherited a hedge of them. I hated them and ended up ripping all of them out.

After a few years, I realized prior owners planted them due to massive deer herds moving through...LOL. Since replaced with hollies and rhododendrons, I still found a place in my heart for one out in the rear yard. It's a dwarf, reddish/bronze one and does not seem at all invasive, and it is deer proof but those thorns are vicious! P.S., My roses are all done...., deer FOOD!