Rubus occidentalisIndiana Native
Black Raspberry

Family:

Rosaceae (Rose Family) 210

Genus:

Rubus (Bramble Blackberry Raspberry Dewberry Pricker) 2

Plant Type:

Shrub 462

Growth Forms:

Spreading / Branched 76

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 3 221

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 794

Flower Notes:

White

Foliage Notes:

Green (compound, alternate, cordate/ovate, toothed margins)

Stem Notes:

Green to Brown (glaucous, turning woody and brown in the winter)

Fruit Notes:

Black (drupe)

Ultimate Height:

2-4 feet

Ultimate Spread:

8-10 feet

Bloom Times:

June 53

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Dry to medium 33

Soil Notes:

Prefers moist, highly organic soil. Slightly acidic and well drained.

Range:

Eastern US, south to Alabama

Maintenance:

Low 122

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves are compound (3 leaflets), white-hairy underside, with toothed edges. Thorns are present on stems and branches. Fruits are fleshy, pinkish-red immature turning a deep purplish black upon maturity.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Barrier 19

Food/Edible 80

Indiana Native 152

Additional Information

This thorny shrub is an Indiana native found along woodland edges. Although its natural habit is spreading, the Black Raspberry can be cut back to the ground to allow control of the spread and rejuvenation. The fruits of the Black Raspberry are sweet yet a bit tart, becoming a commercial commodity in parts of the United States. Best use in the landscape would be property boarders and erosion control. Best growth in part shade and not full sunlight.