Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Deciduous shrub
Spring — small, pale yellow flowers, and oblong-to-egg-shaped berries.
Full sun to partial shade
Front Yard — Diagonal Fence
Growing at 173 — volunteer
October 31, 2026
Not everything growing at House 173 arrived with an invitation.
Take this Japanese barberry, for instance.
We didn't plant it. It simply appeared one day along the diagonal fence in the front yard, opposite our mugo pine, and apparently decided the accommodations were satisfactory.
We let it stay.
Over time, the little volunteer became a familiar part of that corner of the garden. Its small leaves bring color throughout the growing season, but autumn is when it really puts on a show.
Burgundy, crimson, pink, and purple mingle among the branches, with bright red berries scattered throughout.
In this photograph, the barberry's colorful foliage stands against the deep green needles of the mugo pine. A few white Shasta daisies make an appearance at the lower edge, providing a contrast that nobody planned.
That's one of the pleasures of gardening at 173. Sometimes the plants arrange themselves into combinations we might never have thought to create.
Of course, this particular guest has a few less charming qualities.
Japanese barberry is considered invasive in New York. Its seeds can spread beyond cultivated gardens, and the shrub can establish itself in natural areas where it competes with native plants.
It's a useful reminder that a plant can be attractive, familiar, and part of a garden's history while still presenting environmental concerns.
And then there are the thorns.
The barberry may have arrived uninvited, but it has never been shy about defending its personal space.