In December, the Joint Rules Review Committee heard reasons to categorize Barberry as a noxious plant. As a result, the Committee agreed to classify the plant as noxious in 2020; leaving nurseries a grace period to eliminate their inventories of barberry, according to a source at the WV Dept. of Agriculture. Barberry is a thorny ornamental; primarily used as a residential foundation plant. However, it has reproduced itself in the wild to the point of emburdening forestry and other woods operations. It also has been found to harbor habitat for insect pests that carry human illness. At this writing, the legislature is deliberating on a rule to address this issue.
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