Blackberry Rubus illecebrosus
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Blackberry:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROO-bus il-lee-see-BROH-sus
- Description
-
The Genus Rubus includes blackberry, dewberry, and raspberry and most members of the Genus share the traits of thorny or bristly stems and compound leaves. Also, flowers and fruit appear on last season’s canes (branches), seldom on new shoots, which means one must be cautious when pruning and not remove the canes that will yield next year's berries. There are differences, however, among species; for example, some are erect or arching shrubs up to 8 feet high and others trail on the ground like vines. Some, such as dewberries, produce fruits in the spring while blackberries and raspberries fruit during the summer. In general, Genus Rubus contains some of the most important plants for wildlife in the southeast
Rubus illecebrosus, or the strawberry-raspberry, is a deciduous perennial thorny shrub in the Roseaecae family. It is typically found in thickets and disturbed areas. It can become weedy and spread freely in a hospitable site. It grows well in sandy to medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers moist, well-drained soil. The plant requires full sun, but tolerates light shade. The plant flowers in early summer and the seeds ripen into fruit in late summer. Some report that the fruit is sweet and edible raw or cooked. Others feel the fruit is sour or bitter and inedible. The flavor seems to improve when the fruit is cooked.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
Other than honey fungus, to which most Rubus species are susceptible, there are no known problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rubus
- Species:
- illecebrosus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Asia and Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant provides nectar for pollinators.
- Edibility:
- Fruit is edible, either raw or cooked, and cooking the berries is said to improve the flavor.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Thorns
-
-
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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are unusually large for the genus, each oblong, red, up to 3⁄4 inch long with 50–100 drupelets. Fruit has a sweet taste, although some feel the fruit is insipid when eaten raw.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are produced either one at a time or in clumps of 2-3, each with 5 petals longer than those of most related species. Blooms from April to June.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Pollinators