11 Thorny Plants That Can Boost Your Home Security

That Can Boost Your Home Security That Can Boost Your Home Security Thorny Plants Thorny Plants 11

1. Barberry ( Berberis spp. ) 1. Barberry ( Berberis spp. ) This thorny plant can form hostile hedges that would deter even the most determined trespasser. It also provides decorative yellow flowers in spring followed by red foliage in fall. This thorny plant can form hostile hedges that would deter even the most determined trespasser. It also provides decorative yellow flowers in spring followed by red foliage in fall.

2. Blackberry ( Rubus spp. ) 2. Blackberry ( Rubus spp. ) Many modern blackberry cultivars have been bred to be thornless. So you’ll want to opt for the wild variety or a still-prickly type such as the Kiowa blackberry. Many modern blackberry cultivars have been bred to be thornless. So you’ll want to opt for the wild variety or a still-prickly type such as the Kiowa blackberry.

3. Bougainvillea ( Bougainvillea spp. ) 3. Bougainvillea ( Bougainvillea spp. ) Often clambering over walls, where its colorful bracts display beautifully in zones 10 through 12, bougainvillea actually can protect those walls from criminally minded climbers. Often clambering over walls, where its colorful bracts display beautifully in zones 10 through 12, bougainvillea actually can protect those walls from criminally minded climbers.

4. Crown of Thorns ( Euphorbia milii ) 4. Crown of Thorns ( Euphorbia milii ) This plant’s blooms are also bracts and, as its name implies, it is one of the spiniest types of thorn bushes. This plant’s blooms are also bracts and, as its name implies, it is one of the spiniest types of thorn bushes.

5. Flowering Quince ( Chaenomeles spp. ) 5. Flowering Quince ( Chaenomeles spp. ) One of the earliest blooming spring bushes, the flowering quince offers glossy, sometimes red-tinged foliage and small roselike blooms along with its thorns, which may convince any larcenous lurker to call it quits!. One of the earliest blooming spring bushes, the flowering quince offers glossy, sometimes red-tinged foliage and small roselike blooms along with its thorns, which may convince any larcenous lurker to call it quits!.

6. Hawthorn ( Crataegus spp. ) 6. Hawthorn ( Crataegus spp. ) Hawthorns vary in ultimate height from 15 to 30 feet and make prickly hedges—or the type of tree no criminal will want to climb. Hawthorns vary in ultimate height from 15 to 30 feet and make prickly hedges—or the type of tree no criminal will want to climb.

7. Lemon Tree ( Citrus limon ) 7. Lemon Tree ( Citrus limon ) In addition to providing glossy evergreen foliage, fragrant purple-tinged white blooms, and winter fruits, lacerating lemon trees can end any criminal’s climbing aspirations on a sour note! In addition to providing glossy evergreen foliage, fragrant purple-tinged white blooms, and winter fruits, lacerating lemon trees can end any criminal’s climbing aspirations on a sour note!

8. Eastern Prickly Pear ( Opuntia humifusa ) 8. Eastern Prickly Pear ( Opuntia humifusa ) This “pear” would make a good choice for dry flower beds, especially those beneath windows where anyone taking a stab at forced entry might be stabbed by cactus spines in return. This “pear” would make a good choice for dry flower beds, especially those beneath windows where anyone taking a stab at forced entry might be stabbed by cactus spines in return.

9. Trifoliate Orange ( Poncirus trifoliata ) 9. Trifoliate Orange ( Poncirus trifoliata ) Before the popularization of barbed wire, the tangled branches of this "hardy orange" (which contain spines up to 2 inches long) did a good job of hedging in livestock. Before the popularization of barbed wire, the tangled branches of this "hardy orange" (which contain spines up to 2 inches long) did a good job of hedging in livestock.

10. Pyracantha ( Pyracantha spp. ) 10. Pyracantha ( Pyracantha spp. ) Low-growing cultivars such as ‘Lowboy’ can be grown as a foundation shrub or ground cover to discourage tiptoeing thieves. Low-growing cultivars such as ‘Lowboy’ can be grown as a foundation shrub or ground cover to discourage tiptoeing thieves.

11. Rose ( Rosa spp. ) 11. Rose ( Rosa spp. ) Probably the most common thorny plants, roses also remain among the most attractive and versatile due to their wide range of colors, forms, and growth habits . Probably the most common thorny plants, roses also remain among the most attractive and versatile due to their wide range of colors, forms, and growth habits .

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