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Japanese Barberry

Berberis thunbergii

Found in rich forests, old fields. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

-55
Severe harm

Not native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height
3–6 feet
Spread
4–7 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Dry to moist
See native alternatives

Do not plant. Listed invasive in West Virginia.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Common Ninebark
    Physocarpus opulifolius

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Pink or white.

    Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)

  • Pink Azalea
    Rhododendron periclymenoides

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Pink, purple or white.

    Similar growth form, spread, evergreen or deciduous

  • Black Chokeberry
    Aronia melanocarpa

    Sun: Partial sun, Full sun. Soil: Average to wet. Flowers: White.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

    Different: flower color

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
March to April
Fruiting season
May to September

Recorded in 7 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Moist forests

Woods Scene
Harvey Joiner, Woods Scene: tall beeches in a moist Kentucky woodland, light falling through a closed canopy onto a damp forest floor. Regional view: the painting does not name the exact site. Shown: Kentucky beech woods (Harvey Joiner, Louisville painter of Kentucky beech forests; the painting does not name the site), a neighboring state.Woods Scene, Harvey Joiner, c. 1880-1920. Public domain. Source record.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 75 animals.

Widespread birds also seen here (38)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

11CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Berberis

  • Bleptina caradrinalisBent-Winged Owlet, Variable Snout
  • Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
  • Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
  • Omphalocera cariosaMoonseed Webworm
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
  • Rheumaptera meadiiBarberry Geometer, Barberry Looper
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Show all 11
  • Triphosa haesitataTissue Moth, Brown Tissue
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
2BirdsRecorded eating Berberis in West Virginia

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes West Virginia, most records first.

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab)

Direct food only. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Birds that eat Berberis 2

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Berberidaceae
Hardiness
Zones 4a–8b
Flower color
Yellow
Growth rate
Moderate
Growth habit
Several stems
Foliage color
Dark green
Fruit begins
May
Fruit ends
September

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

West Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources