Rubus allegheniensis

Common Names

Allegheny Blackberry, Common Blackberry

Summary

Allegheny blackberry is an eastern North American native deciduous shrub with long arching, stout, armed canes that form dense thickets, typically 4–8 ft tall and 4–10 ft wide, with palmately compound leaves of 3–5 leaflets, white flowers in late spring to early summer, and dark purple-black edible aggregate fruits ripening in summer. It grows in full sun to partial shade, features prickly canes, and is notable for its edible berries and wildlife-attracting flowers, often forming loose colonies that provide habitat.

In cultivation, it prefers well-drained, moist soils and abundant light, tolerates a range of soil types, and is hardy in USDA zones 3–8; propagation occurs by suckers, tip layering, or root cuttings, with vegetative spread forming colonies. This plant is well-suited for woodland-edge or naturalized plantings, serving as a source of edible fruit and wildlife habitat in landscape contexts.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

5-8 feet

Spread

4-10 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5–6.5).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5.5–6.5).

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green above; much paler below.

Fall Foliage Color

Green, Orange, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds