What kind of thorny plant / shrub is best under a shaded window for security purposes? Zone 8!?

I am in Zone 8 (San Antonio, TX). I am researching plants that I can use to act as security / burglar deterrents and can be grown under the windows of my house. On the driveway side I have windows fairly high off the ground but there is very little sun. I prefer something that is drought tolerant but most importantly I want something THORNY that will grow in the shade. Pretty would be nice but painful is most important!





Yes, I have a home security system but I have some REALLY BAD neighbors and if they're strung out on who knows what I want an extra deterrent. I'm thinking Bougainvillea on the fence and roses along other borders but for the shady areas I'm lost. I'm a "beginner" gardener. I've looked at Barberry, Flying Dragon, and pyracantha as options but I don't know how well they'll do without much sun. Are there rose varieties that would do well in the shade? Thanks!

What kind of thorny plant / shrub is best under a shaded window for security purposes? Zone 8!?
A yucca plant will grow in zone 8 as I'm in a zone 8 too. I hate them as they have so many thorny spines. One does not walk through that plant or bump into it without having a cut.
Reply:Hawthorne. Nice spikes about 3inches long. Grows 5 feet high or more. Would not prickly pear cactus be appropriate in San Antonio? It may be bright enough even without direct sun. Always choose native. You won't regret it. You may have luck with rugosa roses but not the hybrids. They need lots of sun and care. If they are as bad as you have indicated, they will probably cut down. anything you put there.
Reply:I have used berry shrubs to keep pets away from an area of the garden that isn't fenced. The thorns hurt and dig in so they work well.





You could also easily incorporate barbed wire into any shade loving shrub as long as the leaves cover it. Definitely digs in, would not be expected and is quite painful and difficult to unravel if someone stumbles into it.
Reply:How about the barberry. They come in different varieties. We have both, a burgundy leaf with lots of thorns and we have a golden color leaf with lots of thorns. They both flower with tiny white blossoms. Both are growing in part sun and shade. It's considered a medium height bush. Worth trying, we really enjoy ours. After flowering, you can cut them back to the size you prefer each year.
Reply:Bourganvilla grows in shade. I have one heading for the tree tops in almost total shade.
Reply:how about a hardy citrus. they have massive thorns. thornys 3 inches long and 1/2 inch thick! they are scary and anything that has blood wont evn think of going near it. will make fruits, but they are very sour and no animal will eat it either.








also neddle palms are nice plants that are thorny. atound the trunk their are big thorns. also great for a tropical look since it is very very cold hardy