Japanese Barberry, an invasive shrub that has become widely-used in landscaping due to its color and ability to keep deer away, will soon be prohibited in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has implemented a multi-phase statewide ban on growing and selling the plant due to the negative effect it has on the environment.  Known as Berberis thunbergii, the plant originated in Japan and Eastern Asia and was brought to the United States in the 19th century as a decorative shrub. Japanese Barberry quickly overgrows and forms dense, prickly thickets that can crowd out other plants and be disruptive to various ecosystems. The plant can spread easily across wooded areas,…