Weir Farm National Historic Site - Japanese Barberry

Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii)is a woody shrub with a single thorn below each rosette of wedge shaped leaves. The leaves turn varying shades of orange, red, and crimson in the fall. Barberry has yellow flowers and small, oblong red berries which are a favorite of brids. The roots of the plant are bright yellow.

Barberry is native to Asia and was and still is planted as an ornamental hedge.