GARDEN CAPSULE
The challenge: You were planning to plant Japanese barberries this spring but learned they can be invasive.
The solution: Some shrubs in the same size range that would make good substitutes for barberries include Little Devil ninebark ( Physocarpus opulifolius), Wine & Roses weigela ( W. florida), and Henry’s Garnet sweetspire ( Itea virginica).
Pluses: With any of these substitute shrubs, you can avoid barberry’s wicked thorns. Little Devil ninebark has beautiful red-purple foliage and light-pink button-like flowers. Wine & Roses weigela has dark burgundy-purple leaves and rosy-pink flowers. Henry’s Garnet sweetspire blooms in summer with fragrant white flowers and shows off in autumn with reddish-purple foliage. None of these shrubs requires much pruning. Sweetspire is also more tolerant of shade than barberries. Weigela and sweetspire resist deer browsing.
Minuses: The invasive issue is complicated because not all barberries are restricted; for more information, see dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/Japanese Barberry.html.
Sources: The recommended varieties are widely available wherever shrubs are sold. Wine & Roses weigela is a Proven Winners ColorChoice variety; for a store finder or to order online, go to provenwinners.com. Little Devil ninebark is from Bailey Nurseries; see baileynurseries.com for a retail store finder.