Japanese Barberry in Autumn

Here's an old invasive adversary of mine, Japanese Barberry, from late last autumn. Most of the year this bush is green, it eventually turns orange or red as cold temperatures arrive (though it does this later than most native plant rivals). This short video tells the story of how a garden shrub so effectively takes over an ecosystem.

It's believed that the Japanese Barberry is tick-friendly because its dense branches/leaves provide an unusually humid environment that wards off the desiccation ticks typically face while looking for a host animal. And the thorniness of Japanese Barberry protects the mice that ticks prey on too, providing a convenient food source for the ticks. It's unclear just how much Japanese Barberry has increased Lyme Disease, though it's almost certainly helped this disease spread.

Although Japanese Barberries do produce berries that birds eat, it does appear that birds avoid it until other berry sources are depleted. I've heard (though wasn't able to verify) that JB berries are less nutritious for our birds - perhaps that has something to do with it not being high on their list of favored foods.

November 19, 2021 at Glenhurst Meadows
Photo 170813178, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)