Landscaping With Brambles Poses Thorny Issue for Gardener

Through the ages, thorns have been symbolic of pain. If you've ever been stuck by one, you know why.

When I started out in landscape design, I preferred plants without prickly parts. However, in recent years, I've developed a taste for such plants and their many attributes.

Some thorny plants are useful and enjoyable to have in the garden, provided you wear heavy leather gloves when working around them. They offer food, wildlife habitats, security, ornamental value and deterrents to unwanted mammals, such as deer.

Some of the thorniest are preferred by birds. George Adams, author of "Birdscaping Your Garden" (Rodale Books, 1998, $18.95), said berries from hawthorn trees are relished by 39 varieties; raspberries attract 53 types; roses are eaten by at least 42 avian species; and birds love the protection of a thorny thicket of stems for nesting. Brambles, such as raspberries and blackberries, are home to ruffed grouse, quail, robins, wood thrushes, cedar waxwings and many other birds that feel safer from raccoons, cats and other predators in a thorny mass of shrubs. Cactuses hardy to this region, such as prickly pear (Opuntia), are other favorite bird habitats; they house mourning doves and sparrows, among others. Larger cactuses, more often found out west, are habitats for owls, kestrels, flycatchers, wrens, warblers and martins.

Adams reports that American hollies, which grow in sun or shade in this region, benefit 49 species of birds under their evergreen canopies. Hawthorns, while not as shade tolerant, are the deciduous counterparts to spiny hollies in terms of habitats and food. Birds feed on the insects that are attracted to their flowers and on berries that form on their spiked branches; other aviary wildlife count on these plants to safely nest there.

We all want secure homes and properties. The sharp-spined armor on plants can be beneficial to people by deterring crime. Wintergreen barberries (Berberis julianae) are evergreen and will form a barrier that people cannot penetrate without great pain. Rotunda Chinese hollies (Ilex cornuta "rotunda") are referred to by woody-plant expert Michael Dirr as "living pin cushions." The rotunda hollies are low-growing, thorny-leafed evergreens that stay three to four feet in height and grow into a thick mass. The low-growing habit of this plant is good news for people planning to maintain their own property, because it will seldom, if ever, need pruning. While not evergreen, crimson pygmy barberries, with thorns lining their stems, are compact, low-growing shrubs that also have little need for pruning.

Additional plants I keep in my design palette to grow into impenetrable masses and create secure barriers for properties are pyracanthas and roses. They can be designed for areas where you might feel threatened. People won't hide in or be tempted to cross the thorny thicket these plants create.

Several other good barrier plantings have fruit people can eat, such as hardy-orange (Poncirus trifoliata), raspberries, rugosa roses and flowering quinces. Raspberries can be eaten right from the shrub. Rose hips and fruits can be eaten from roses. Flowering quinces and hardy-oranges can be made into a jelly or jam. Along with food value, the best thing about these prickly edible plants is that, because of their thorny nature, deer generally won't eat them.

Deer, as well as people, have an aversion to the spiny armor plants display. For example, deer love roses but won't browse on them if the stems are lined with thorns. Other spiny plants deer don't like are perny hollies, hybrid dragon lady hollies, fragrant osmanthus and leatherleaf mahonias.

Other thorny herbaceous annuals -- perennials and trees that are aesthetically pleasing when used for texture in the garden -- include globe thistle (Echinops ritro), a perennial with a flower that's relished by finches and other birds. It adds a feathery texture to a perennial border or wildflower meadow.

Spiny bear's breeches (Acanthus spinosus) is another of the ornate spine-leafed perennials popularly planted today. Its mauve flower is surrounded by purplish bracts. The extraordinary color and texture of the flower complements the growth habit of the plant. It remains ornamental and fresh looking throughout the growing season and survives early frosts.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is an annual, ornamental tropical plant grown for its striking, spiked, exotic-looking foliage. It has medicinal uses, too. It is found in a form of castor oil and has been processed into an effective repellent for moles and other rodents.

Devil's walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) is an excellent ornamental conversation piece for a small garden. Its thorns protrude through the bark and run along the entire tree. It thrives in full or partial sun and casts light shade down through its canopy. It creates an exceptionally interesting texture planted against buildings and other structures.

As great as it can be to have prickly flora in your garden, they can be dangerous and should be used with reserve or not at all in some situations. Here are several caveats:

Do not install these plants near athletic fields or courts, swimming pools, or anywhere people play, especially youngsters. The thorns of wintergreen barberries, hawthorns and hardy-oranges can be especially injurious if anyone falls or runs into them. I can attest to this firsthand.

In the early years of my landscape business, I pruned hundreds of feet of wintergreen barberry hedges. During the brush-cleanup phase of one job, we lowered the hedge by about six feet. I was stomping on a pile of trimmings to compact them into a bin for hauling. On one jump, I fell into the pile. In the ensuing weeks of healing, I plucked many thorns from my skin. It's a major reason for my long aversion to designing with spiny plants.

Thorns should also be taken into account when weeding the garden. For example, pulling weeds from under roses, barberries, hollies or any other prickly plant can leave a spine or two sticking in your finger. Leaf cleanup under American hollies is also a practice in pain management, as is the clean out, pruning and cutting of suckers on a hawthorn. So make sure you use tools and the right protective gear. That might include safety goggles, heavy leather gloves and sturdy shoes.