There are currently 142 plant species that are considered invasive in Massachusetts.

Many of these plants are not even available in the marketplace and alternatives are even necessary. However there are some commonly used plants in the landscape that have been around for many years. The three top plants are Barberry, Burning Bush and Norway Maple. The question that gardeners have is what can I use now?

Here is a brief description about the plant under regulation with a list of alternatives underneath each one. Always remember to install the right plant for the right location. These alternatives are suggestions. You can get more information about the specific plants by clicking on them. Although they may not grow the same exact height or spread we are offering this as a substitute because of its major similarity in the landscape.

Japanese Barberry
Berberis thunbergii

A deciduous shrub introduced into the US by The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, MA, in 1875. This species quickly was adopted as a horticultural replacement for its cousin, common barberry (B. vulgaris), which was blamed widely as an alternate host for a destructive wheat stem rust fungus and later targeted for eradication.

Under optimal landscape conditions, which for Japanese barberry means full sun and well-drained soil in zones 4 to 9, specimens form dense, rounded to upright mounds 6 to 8 feet tall. The spiny branches bear small, bright green, teardrop-shaped leaves that are complemented by rather inconspicuous, yellow spring flowers. Later, the leaves flaunt hues of red and orange before dropping to reveal crimson berries reminiscent of small coffee beans.

Concurrent with its rise as a popular ornamental plant in the decades following its introduction, Japanese barberry began to escape from gardens and establish self-sustaining populations in unmanaged areas. The species currently is considered invasive in more than 30 eastern and central states, according to conservation organizations, state governments and research universities.

Cultivars:  Red-leaved, Crimson Pygmy, Royal Burgundy, Bagatelle, Helmond's Pillar, Golden, Bonanza Gold, Golden Nugget, and Rose Glow 

Suggested Alternatives for Japanese Barberry
Weigelia ‘Wine and Roses®’ Weigela florida ‘Alexandra’   10-9954 Deciduous Flowering Shrub	Height: 4-5’ Flower: Rose-pink, attracts hummingbirds, blooms May to June Spread: 3-4’ Foliage: Burgundy and holds color well Exposure: Full sun PP# 10,772
‘Fine Wine’™ Weigela florida ‘Bramwell’  11-6038 Deciduous Flowering Shrub	Height: 2-3’ Flower: Rose-pink, compact habit Spread: 2-3’ Foliage: Dark burgundy and holds color well Exposure: Full sun
‘Midnight Wine’® Weigela florida ‘Elvera’  11-0007 Deciduous Flowering Shrub	Height: 18-24” Flower: Light pink, dwarf habit Spread: 2-3’ Foliage: Deep burgundy-purple Exposure: Full sun PP# 12,217

Burning Bush or Winged Euonymus
Euonymus alatus

Euonymus alatus is a tough but over utilized landscape shrub primarily found as the cultivar 'Compacta' in mass plantings or as a formal hedge, widely known for its brilliant red autumnal display, and lesser known for the bold-textured corky stems that have winter appeal.

This large-sized shrub grows 8-10 tall by 8-10’ wide and is very adaptable to poor soils, compacted soils, various soil pHs, heat, drought, periodic shearing, and pollution (and is therefore very urban tolerant), and is also quite adaptable to partial to full shade. There are a few cultivars in the marketplace, one of the most common being ‘Compacta’, growing smaller, 6-8’ tall by 6-8’ wide.   

The twigs for the species form have very narrow dark green strips occur along the axis of the thick stem, surrounded by very prominent tan to brown corky wings and the ‘Compacta', has relatively thin stems that are primarily green, and the corkiness is replaced by thin tan strips interrupting the subtle green color. 

The highlight of this plant is the fall foliage. The color is a brilliant flaming red in sunny sites or a faded pink-red in shady sites, yielding a consistent and often spectacular Autumn display. After the leaves drop to the ground a noticeable beige-red capsule, which splits open to show a few orange fruits cover the branches. This is great bird food and unfortunately that is why you see it creeping in the natural landscape.

Suggested Alternatives for Burning Bush with Fall Color
Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'
Red Twig Dogwood Cornus sericea and ‘Baileyi’
Redvien Enkianthus Enkianthus campanulatus
Fothergilla Dwarf and ‘Mount Airy’ Fothergilla
Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Winterberry, Afterglow, Red Sprite, Sparkleberry, Winter Red Ilex verticillata
Virginia Sweetspire Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’  and ‘Little Henry’
Miss Kim Lilac Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’
Arrowwood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum
Winterthur Viburnum Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur'
Doublefile, Maresi, Shasta Viburnum Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum

Suggested Alternatives for Burning Bush for Formal or Informal Hedges
Lynwood Gold Forsythia Forsythia x intermedia ‘Lynwood Gold’
California Privet Ligustrum ovalifolium
Diablo, Coppertina™, Summer Wine® and Common Ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
Upright Yew Taxus x media
Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis

Norway Maple
Acer platanoides

The Norway maple is native to Europe and has been planted extensively throughout Massachusetts. Growing 40-60’ tall and 30-40’ wide, growing very fast when young. Tolerant of urban conditions made this and excellent choice for street tree usage over the past 50 years. 

Norway maple produces a fruit called a samara. This winged structure helps distribute the seeds in the air. The wind has blown the seeds into the natural environment allowing germination and growth and has starting to take over in some natural stands of hardwood forests.

The most common cultivar is the ‘Crimson King’. Popular because the leaves emerge bright crimson and deepen to maroon which persists throughout the growing season. Slower growing than the species. Fall color usually a bizarre brownish-maroon.

Another cultivar installed widely is 'Emerald Queen' - Increasingly popular for its upright, rounded habit ( to 50' tall and 40' wide) and yellow fall color.

Suggested Alternatives for Crimson King Norway Maple with Purple Leaf Fall Color
Thundercloud and Newport Plum Prunus cerasifera
Canada Red Chokecherry Prunus virginiana ‘Shubert Select’

Suggested Alternatives for Crimson King Norway Maple with Tolerance to Roadside Locations
Red, Sunset, October Glory and Autumn Flame Maple Acer rubrum
Aristocrat, Chanticleer, New Bradford, and Redspire Pear Pyrus calleryana
Pin and Red Oak Quercus
Greenspire, Glenleven Linden Tilia cordata
Green Vase and Village Green Zelkova Zelkova serrata

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