Japanese Barberry - Berberis thunbergii

A small deciduous shrub that has branches with a single spine, which is actually a highly modified leaf, at each shoot node. The leaves are reddish purple in this variety, and the pale yellow flowers bloom in clusters during spring and early summer. The fruit is a glossy red, ovoid berry that contains a single seed. The fruit matures during late summer and persist through the winter.

Habitat: Deciduous forest/meadow edge