Man, I HATE Barberry! So glad they’re now on the ‘Invasive’ list in Wisconsin.
Beau’s wife (deceased) had planted Red Barberry all across the south-facing front of the house. Supposedly, it kept her 90-gazillion cats from hanging out there in the sun.
About a year after I moved here, we had a WONDERFUL patch of wet weather, and Beau said, ‘I think NOW is your chance to get rid of those Barberry!’ So he hooked chains to them and yanked them all out with the skid steer, and they went straight to the brush pile.
Nicest thing he’s ever done for me! :)
I now have the smaller version of Viburnum there, interspersed with clumps of Karl Foerster Grass and lots of heat-seeking Sedum in front of those, in a number of colors, mostly maroons. Looks great and is colorful all season long. :)
I didn’t realize barberry was invasive. Wonder if there is a sterile variety. We plant lots of it here in Georgia. In fact, I just rejuvenated a barberry shrub that had no other seedlings coming up.
Good to know.
BTW, I am planting a field of Karl Foester and Muhli grass behind boulders in two weeks. I am looking forward to this job.
Good deal, got rid of the Barberry. Maybe time to go with things like Saskatoons, Aronia, and Raspberry! (Maybe a drift of Sambucus Nigra Canadensis Too!)
Things that tolerate -30F winters and produce fruit!