Common Blackberry

Scientific name

Rubus allegheniensis

Description

Common Blackberry is a shrub species that typically grows about 2 m height. This plant may also be known by the common name Allegheny Blackberry. The bark is purplish red with prickly thorns. The leaves are alternately arranged, medium green coloured, compound with three leaflets, have ovate shaped leaflets, and coarsely serrated margins. The flowers are white coloured, have five wrinkly petals, appear on hairy racemes with 12 white flowers per cane, and bloom between June and July. The fruits are raspberry like berries that are initially greenish white, changing red to black when ripe. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, like bees and butterflies. The fruits are also beneficial to wildlife species, like birds and small mammals. The berries are edible to humans and desirable because of their sweet flavor. This shrub spreads well and could be used to naturalize un-vegetated areas.

Planting conditions

Common Blackberry grows best in normal to moist conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers organically rich, well-drained loam soil type but can adapt to clay or rocky areas. This shrub can be naturally found in prairies, fields and meadows, forest edges, roadsides, and along stream or lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Normal
  • Moist
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
  • Humus
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 2 m
• Spread:
  • 3 m