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Is Japanese barberry illegal in Pennsylvania?
Sources (6)
- 3 Pa.C.S. § 1519 Noxious weed list – Pennsylvania General Assembly
- PDA — Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed Lists (current additions) – Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- Pa. Bulletin, Doc. 21-2067 (Dec 11, 2021) — Callery pear added, Class B – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
- Pa. Bulletin, 52 Pa.B. 7000 (Nov 12, 2022) — burning bush and privets added – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
- Pa. Bulletin, 52 Pa.B. 3110 (May 28, 2022) — barberry enforcement date and exempt cultivars – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
- Pa. Bulletin, Doc. 21-1239 (Aug 2021) — Japanese barberry added, Class B – Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
Also called: Berberis thunbergii. Last checked against official sources: 2026-10-14.
Federal noxious weed list (7 CFR 360.200): Japanese barberry is not listed.
What Pennsylvania's official list says
| List / legal category | Listed as | List note | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class B noxious weed (PDA Controlled Plant & Noxious Weed List, 3 Pa.C.S. § 1511) — cannot be sold, transported, planted or otherwise propagated in Pennsylvania | Berberis thunbergii | Japanese barberry — listed October 2021; enforcement of sale ban began Oct 9, 2023 (52 Pa.B. 3110); approved sterile cultivars exempt | Yes — listed as prohibited |
Effective dates
- listed October 2021; enforcement of sale ban began Oct 9, 2023 (52 Pa.B. 3110); approved sterile cultivars exempt (from the official list entry)
Exempt cultivars in Pennsylvania (4)
- Crimson Cutie® ('UCONNBTCP4N') — exempt (approved sterile cultivar, 52 Pa.B. 3110)
- Lemon Cutie® ('UCONNBTB113') — exempt (approved sterile cultivar, 52 Pa.B. 3110)
- Lemon Glow® ('UCONNBTB048') — exempt (approved sterile cultivar, 52 Pa.B. 3110)
- Mr. Green Genes® ('UCONNBTB039') — exempt (approved sterile cultivar, 52 Pa.B. 3110)
Source: Controlled plant noxious weed lists – Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
Already have it in your yard?
Most state invasive-plant laws, including the list wording above, target selling, distributing, propagating or planting. They generally do not order you to remove a plant already in your yard, but some noxious-weed laws do require control. Read the linked law or ask your county Extension office.
Native alternatives for Pennsylvania
- Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
- Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)
- Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Each is recorded as native to Pennsylvania in the USDA NRCS PLANTS Database state distribution (retrieved 2026-10-14). Check size, sun and soil fit for your site with your local Extension office.
More native swaps with hardiness, light and size →
Japanese barberry in other states
Connecticut Delaware Indiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New Hampshire New Jersey New York Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin
See every plant on Pennsylvania's invasive & noxious plant lists, or check any plant.
Not legal advice. PlantLegit summarizes official lists and links the source. Laws change, local (county/city) rules may add restrictions, and the official text controls. "What it means" is our plain-English label; read the exact list wording. Confirm with the agency before buying, selling or removing plants. Full disclaimer.