Rubus rolfei

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. Flowers and fruits also 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 rolfei is perfect for hot, dry, erodible slopes or a ditch where moisture fluctuates. This groundcover thrives in difficult conditions that other plants cannot tolerate. It is a perennial from Taiwan that grows 1 to 3 inches tall with crinkly, deep-green leaves providing needed texture in lightly shaded areas. It is in the Roseaceae family and commonly known as creeping raspberry, but it is sometimes listed as Rubus calycinoides or Rubus pentalobus

White flowers appear in mid-summer, but they are generally difficult to spot among the foliage. Creeping raspberry fruits are similar to blackberries or red raspberries, with their delicious flavor and aggregate shape but their color is yellow to salmon to red. The plant grows quickly forming a low growing dense carpet of leaves and in the fall and winter, those leaves turn subtle rusty pink in color. This groundcover is considered aggressive, but not invasive. It will not climb trees or smother nearby shrubs and can be managed easily with an edger. Space creeping raspberry plants 4 to 6 feet apart, allowing them plenty of room.

Creeping raspberry adapts well to containers and tumbles easily over rock walls, providing a “spilling over” effect. Bulbs or other perennials are able to pop up through the foliage to create interesting compositions. The cultivar ‘Emerald Carpet’ forms a low, dense, evergreen groundcover bearing textured, dark green leaves through the growing season. In the cooler months these leaves are blushed with burgundy tones. Alternatively, the cultivar ‘Golden Quilt’ is a branch sport that bears striking golden-yellow leaves that are especially prominent on the new growth of the season.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No known problems.

More information on Rubus.