It has both Briars and Thorns I'm not sure what you mean. A briar is a plant. Briar can also refer generally to a prickly part of a plant. But briar isn't a specific type of prickle. This source defines various terms related to sharp parts of plants, including thorn, spine, prickle, and bristle.

I have 3 Mermaids and love her. She is definitely a thorn meister and will reach out and grab you if you venture too close to her claws. But I agree on the hardiness issue. Zone 5 would be a stretch. Try looking at some rugosas. They are plenty thorny (will sucker happily too, to make an impenetrable thicket!) and cold hardy. Also many of them tolerate shade quite well. No lack of fragrance either. Not all rebloom however. If you want yellow, perhaps Agnes. Nova Zembla is a rugosa climber. Such a pale pink that it looks white. Rosa rugosa alba is a very beautiful single that repeats. Besides checking Help Me Find you might want to peruse Pickerings website as although they aren't shipping any more this season the rugosa page is chocked full of info and will allow you to compare a good selection of rugosas. Sweetbriars (eglantines) are another possibilty. Cold tolerant, shade tolerant, and prickly as all get out. Another class that is an enthusiatic thicket-former. Not that many are repeat-bloomers. The rambler Rambling Rector is reputedly very thorny. He is supposed to be highly shade tolerant. White flowers but only a once-bloomer. I'm not sure of his cold tolerance as HMF shows just the 6b to 9b default but there is at least 1 garden listed as growing him in zone 5. Other ramblers would be a possiblity. Some of the species roses might fit the bill. I'd suggest R. woodsii ultramontana--its a beast!! and highly fragrant to boot--but it is definitely pink. HMF says height of 39", but think again on that, it gets BIG. I saw a monster sized one at Eurodesert. Ain't nobody or nuthin' passing through that jungle.;) It likes cold places too. Melissa

Michael, I'll add Electron to the deer-proof list. Some hybrid teas with huge, gorgeous, flowers are complete sociopaths. Thank you for the welder's gloves tip. I could really use some. Perhaps I could slip another pair of gloves underneath if the welder's are too large. Stanwell has the advantage at the moment. Campanula, you've reinforced my decision to avoid Madame LL. I, too, was once tempted by a generous description but saved by good fortune. Sometimes it serves one well to hit the ceiling of a gardening budget. You DO write books, don't you? No one could top your final description of Madame! Sweet briars: it does make a difference, doesn't it, when one walks into the relationship with the expectation of arming to the teeth? Catspa--Alba Odorata and Fakir's Delight. 1/2 inch thorns. I pulled out a ruler and looked at the 1/2 inch mark. Eeeouwww, AO! "Fakir's Delight" must be one of those sinister tongue-to-the-cheek expressions like "iron maiden." Kate, don't you love it when no one informs you that the roses you are selecting are genetic mutants resulting from some kind of Island of Dr. Moreau cross with a Tyrannosaurus rex? One never discovers the fact until the roses have rooted to the other side of the globe and wedged themselves between the foundation and a stand of precious and expensive perennials in an exceptionally narrow bed smack against your front door. Carol

Yes the blackberries are delicious, but these are not blackberries.. I have both.. there are distinct but very small differeces.. these have no flower, berry or fruit that I have seen. they are about the same size.. the stalks are a different color in the winter and I think these others are much more purple especially this time of year.. If I remember the thorns are placed different also.. The leaves are extremely similar.. if they were growing now I would take some pictures.. The area in the center of the circle drive was specifically created for the wild flower garden, the briar and other weeds are not really bad in there.. I have been spraying and pulling the growths there with success. The briar and blackberry are overtaking the areas west north and east of the circle drive along the woods edge, more on the north and west where they get much more sun. I have virtually no vines on the property.. Kudzu is prolific in the region, but I have none on the propery or the surronding properties. Once you get past the briars, it is lovely to walk in the woods.. it's getting in there that is the problem, so no I do not want to just let them stay there.. I am attempting to reforest these areas all the way to the drive.. there are many nice saplings in these areas but the briar is choking them out.. The VA extension person told me, and I can see this myself, that this particular briar loves the sun and is really only growing where the area had been logged some 6 years ago. When I plant the wild flower and low growing grass seed in there it "should" take over and allow the saplings to flourish.. I discussed with the people I bought the seed from about slightly over seeding to make sure I get real good cover. My base question is can I get away with not tilling or cultivating these large areas (because I dont want to mow down the saplings) and just rake the seed in as much as possible and maybe a light cover of either hay or mulch???