Graves' blackberry Rubus allegheniensis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROO-bus al-leh-gay-nee-EN-sis
- Description
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Allegheny Blackberry is a native multi-stemmed shrub in the rose (Rosaceae) family native to Eastern Canada and the USA. It is found in the mountains of NC. The red-purple stems start out erect but arch with age and are lined with prickles. The native habitat is forests, woodlands and grassy balds.
Allegheny blackberry blooms in late spring or early summer and produces fruit in the summer. It is a woody shrub with canes that are initially erect but often bend downward to re-root in the ground. These canes actively grow and form leaves during the first year, and develop fruits in the form of drupes during the second year, after which they die down. The root system consists of a taproot.
This plant often forms loose colonies vegetatively. It grows easily and quickly from transplants or cuttings of young growth planted in a site with full sun to light shade and rich fertile soil. It will tolerate clay loam or rocky soil as well. Allegheny blackberry is distinguished from other native blackberries by the gland-tipped hairs covering the branches.
Allegheny blackberry is a wildlife-friendly plant providing food for pollinators birds and a variety of mammals. It also provides cover year round.
Information on blackberry cultivation for home gardeners is available in the NC State Extension publication Blackberries for the Home Garden.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems, but can become aggressive and difficult to eliminate. Because it is so successful and can spread easily, use caution when selecting a planting site. Herbicides may be required to completely eliminate the plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rubus
- Species:
- allegheniensis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada and U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CA, CT, DC, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV Canada: NB, NS, ON, PE, QC
- Wildlife Value:
- The nectar and pollen of the spring flowers attract many kinds of insects, especially long-tongued and short-tongued bees. Butterflies are also attracted to the blooms. The plant provides excellent cover year-round and the fruits are relished by songbirds, small mammals, foxes, raccoons and black bears. During the winter, birds and small mammals eat the seeds left from rotten fruit. White-tailed deer and rabbits browse the leaves, although the plant is moderately resistant to damage from deer
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought tolerant. Moderately resistent to deer.
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible. The fruit is seedy and has a sweet flavor when fully ripened. Eaten fresh or preserved or frozen. Often made into pies, syrups, jams, or other desserts.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Thimble shaped blackberries look like raspberries. Fruit displays in July. Drupes develop later in the summer; they are about ¾" long and 1/3" across, depending on moisture levels. The drupes are initially white or green, then red, and finally black. They are seedy and have a sweet flavor when fully ripened.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 5 petaled white flowers form in loose terminal clusters at the end of stems from May to June. The canes develop racemes with about 12 white flowers. There is little or no floral fragrance.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Palmate or pinnately compound red, orange or purple fall color. Leaves are usually trifoliate or palmately compound with long petioles. The leaflets are up to 4" long and 3" across; they are up to twice as long as wide. A typical leaflet is usually ovate with coarse, doubly serrate margins; it may have a few scattered white hairs on the upper surface, while the lower surface is light green and pubescent.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Purple-red and lined with prickles
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Green where there is new growth at the tips, otherwise they are brown or reddish brown with stout prickles that are straight or somewhat curved.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Security
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
