Rubus occidentalis
North American native bramble with arching, spiny canes, white flowers, and small, deep purple-black berries known for their intense flavor and high antioxidant content.
Common Names
Black Raspberry, Blackcap Raspberry, Thimbleberry, Scotch Cap, Purple Raspberry, Black Caps, Blackcap
Summary
Black Raspberry is a native Eastern North American deciduous shrub with arching, biennial canes that form compact clumps and are armed with thorns. It grows about 2–3 m tall, with palmately compound leaves of 3–5 leaflets; white flowers appear in spring, followed by deep purple-black, perfumed, winey-sweet berries that are an aggregate of drupelets and leave a hollow receptacle on the plant when picked.
In cultivation, site in full sun to partial shade on well-drained fertile loam with consistent moisture, hardy in USDA zones 4–8. Fruits occur on floricanes (second-year canes); primocanes do not fruit. Pruning involves removing spent floricanes after harvest and tip-pruning primocanes to about 24–30 inches to encourage laterals; shorten laterals to 8–12 inches and install a simple two-wire trellis to improve airflow and ease of harvest. Propagation by suckers; yields are used for fresh eating, jams, syrups, and preserves; berries are highly perishable and refrigerate 1–2 days. Additional uses include natural colorants and nutraceuticals due to high anthocyanin and ellagic acid; attracts wildlife.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3-8 ft
Spread
3-6 ft
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun; tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained loamy soil, slightly acidic, pH 5.5–6.8
Soil Drainage
Well-drained, loamy soil with slightly acidic pH 6.0–6.5; raised beds or mounded rows recommended in heavy soils
Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green, blue-green in summer, yellow in fall, upper foliage medium to dark green, lower surface silvery/white
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
1.5–2.5 meters per season
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Layering, Division, Cuttings, Suckers, Tissue culture
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, other pollinators, birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 493 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Rosales
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Rubus
Synonyms
Rubus occidentalis subsp. eu-occidentalis Melanobatus occidentalis Rubus occidentalis var. flavobaccus Melanobatus michiganus Rubus tomentosus Rubus occidentalis var. pallidus Rubus occidentalis var. grandiflora Rubus occidentalis var. incisus Rubus occidentalis subsp. euoccidentalis Rubus occidentalis var. japonicus Rubus fruticosus var. tomentosus Rubus occidentalis f. pallidus Rubus occidentalis var. occidentalis Rubus idaeus var. americanus