Swamp Dewberry Rubus hispidus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROO-bus HISS-pih-dus
- Description
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Swamp dewberry is a native perennial shrub in the Rose (Rosaceae) family with branching woody vines and trailing stems up to 8' long. Rather than arching canes, dewberries produce trailing stems that creep along the ground. The stems can root at the tips forming new plants. It is commonly found in wetland areas, disturbed habitats, forest edges, meadows, fields, and swamps. In NC it is primarily found in the coastal plains and the mountains and is rare in the Piedmont. The stems easily root at the tips forming new plants.
The flowers of swamp dewberry are visited primarily by bees, including both long-tongued and short-tongued bees. The fruits are eaten by many species of songbirds and mammals. The summer berries have a sour flavor and the plant is generally not cultivated.
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: Potential insect problems are cane-boring beetles, leaf beetles, stink bugs, aphids, leafhoppers, treehoppers, katydids, walkingsticks, thrips, the larvae of sawflies, and the larvae of many moths.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rubus
- Species:
- hispidus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- A dull blue dye can be created from its berries
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers, fruit, and leaves feed multiple pollinators, birds, and small to large mammals. This plant provides nectar for pollinators.
- Edibility:
- Fruit can be consumed raw or cooked. It can have a sour flavor and is mainly used in preserves.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Aggregate
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits start out green, moving to red, and finally dark purple when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Each white flower is 1/2-3/4 inches wide with 5 petals, 5 light green sepals united at the base, numerous stamens, and a light green compound pistil at its center. Petals are softly hairy. Blooms from April to June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Doubly Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate three-parted (trifolate) compound leaves with coarsely toothed margins and many bristles. The upper leaflet surface is medium green, hairless, and somewhat shiny, while the lower surface is more pale and sometimes softly hairy.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- No scales, covered in hair
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are angular to round, have bristly to soft hars and scattered prickles. They are light green to reddish in color
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
