Ruby Tuesday

Japanese Barberry
Beautiful as it may be it is considered invasive.

Pros:

• Beautiful berries and orange-purple foliage in the fall.
• Folk medicine uses for its antibacterial properties & the treatment of intestinal symptoms.
• Birds nest in the shrubs, protected by its thorny branches.
• Hedges make natural fences.
  
• Roots and stem make a deep yellow natural dye.

Cons:

• Displacing native plant species.
• This in turn reduces the variety of wildlife habitat and forage.
  
• Extremely difficult to eradicate due to its long tap root.

Check the others at: workofthepoet.blogspot.com