INVADERS: BARBERRY AND WINGED EUONYMUS
Eco-gardening is at its best in The Monday Garden
May 16, 2004, Issue 112
And the winners for “Most Controversial Invaders” are Winged Euonymus (euonymus alatus) and Japanese Barberry (berberis thunergii).
picture: winged euonymus escaping through a fence on Morgan Street, Stamford CT
The controversy: These two shrubs are found along virtually all suburban streets and in only too many industrial parks. Unfortunately, they are also equally at home in our remaining wild lands. Some invaders (e.g loosestrife) that have are so widespread that discouraged environmentalists talk of “control” rather than “eradication”. However, many believe that it’s not too late to save the woods from this duo IF we weren’t combating constant re-introduction from the gardens.