Popz - Japanese Barberry

I am looking to create a privacy/security hedge around my property. I was considering the Japanese Barberry but came across a posting here that said that this bush took over a forest! Since I live on a 3 acre wooded lot this is of concern to me. Is there anyway to control the spread of this bush?

I originally was looking at Washington Hawthorne but then I was told that when this bush flowers it gives off an unpleasant odor. Naturally that doesn't sound very good either.

Can anyone recommend a bush that flowers.. has lots of thorns.. controllable.. and is disease, bug resistant? I live in Moyock NC (Zone 8). Thank you so much.

Charles aka Popz

Chaenomeles speciosa aka flowering quince (there are thorn-less varieties too) has great blooms and can grow fairly quickly. Roses always comes to mind for a thorny bush as well. Pyracantha has some sharp thorns and the flowers are small but the berries make a statement.

What kind of odor does the Washington hawthorn give off? I have one on the property with several little ones coming up but I've not noticed an odor but big, very big thorns. This gets to be a small tree so not really a bush or shrub but it looks like it can be made into a hedge.

Here are a few pictures of my hawthorn.

Thank you so much for responding.

I looked at your suggestions and the Pyracantha seems to fit the bill for me, especially these: "To minimize problems, choose disease-resistant selections such as 'Apache,' 'Fiery Cascade,' ' Mohave,' 'Navaho,' 'Pueblo,' 'Rutgers,' 'Shawnee' and 'Teton.'" Would you happen to know who sells "starter" versions of these plants?

I do not know for sure what they supposedly smell like. One of the owners of Cold Stream Farm said she had some growing along her house and eventually took them out because of a "rotting garbage" smell. It was the thorns that attracted us to the Hawthorne in the first place. We plan to talk with her again today and will try to get more details and will let you know what she says.

I just spoke to the lady at Cold Stream Farm and she said that the smell was more like "rotting eggs" and lasts for approx 1 - 2 weeks while the flowers are blooming. She went on to say that she has one acre of land and the Washington Hawthornes were near her house and didn't like to work outside because of the smell. Since you already have some maybe they could be an experiment? Not much info but I hope it helps.
Charles

I haven't noticed any smell with our hawthorn but maybe the hawthorns at Cold Stream Farm are a different type than what we have.

Read the first link about smell.

http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/mythfolk/hawthorn.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_10065872_odor-hawthorn-trees.html

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/alabgard/msg080937545963.html?6

http://wildcrafty.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/learning-from-hawthorn/