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Rubus

Phonetic Spelling
ROO-bus
Description

Rubus is a large Genus in the rose (Rosaceae) family that includes blackberry, dewberry, and raspberry. Many members of the Genus share the traits of prickles or bristly stems and compound leaves. Flowers and fruit often appear on last season's canes (branches) but some cultivars have been developed that will bloom on current season canes also.

The plants can grow as erect to arching shrubs and others are vine-like growing on the ground or climbing. Fruiting times will also vary and some refer to them as bramble fruit. They all are an important source of food for wildlife. Most prefer acidic well-drained soil and full sun.

The fruits are edible and there are many cultivars with improved fruit size and flavor that are appropriate for the home garden. It is important to check the chill hours required before planting cultivars of these berries. 

Information on blackberry cultivation for home gardeners is available in the NC State Extension publication Blackberries for the Home Garden and Raspberries in the Home Garden

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Most have prickles. Potential diseases are anthracnose, cane blight, botrytis fruit rot, powdery mildew, phytophthora root rot, mosaic, leaf curl, and crumbly berry. Potential insects are aphids, blackberry knot gall, blackberry leafminer, blackberry sawfly, Japanese beetle and blackberry psyllid. Some of the wild species are weedy and difficult to control.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Prime - Ark® Freedom', R. allegheniensis, R. bifrons, R. canadensis, R. cuneifolius, R. flagellaris, R. hirsutus, R. hispidus, R. idaeus, R. illecebrosus, R. laciniatus, R. occidentalis, R. odoratus, R, pascuus, R, pedatus, R. pensilvanicus, R. phoenicolasius, R. repens, R. rolfei, R. spectabilis, R. trivialis
Tags:
#white flowers#squirrel friendly#edible fruits#bird friendly#weed#full sun#wildlife friendly#prickles
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Prime - Ark® Freedom', R. allegheniensis, R. bifrons, R. canadensis, R. cuneifolius, R. flagellaris, R. hirsutus, R. hispidus, R. idaeus, R. illecebrosus, R. laciniatus, R. occidentalis, R. odoratus, R, pascuus, R, pedatus, R. pensilvanicus, R. phoenicolasius, R. repens, R. rolfei, R. spectabilis, R. trivialis
Tags:
#white flowers#squirrel friendly#edible fruits#bird friendly#weed#full sun#wildlife friendly#prickles
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rubus
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Wildlife Value:
    Fruits attract birds. Provides nectar for bees, food for birds and mammals, and thickets provide shelter for small mammals.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fruit Type:
    Aggregate
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits vary in size and color with many maturing to black or red. Usually edible but vary in taste and sugar content. They also vary as to when they are available.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Solitary
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    White to pink flowers sometimes in clusters that vary in size depending on the species
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Serrate
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves vary in size depeding on the species. Many have hairs and prickles on the leave. Most are compound leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems often with prickles
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Weedy