Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Cstaffa (en.wikipedia.org) at English Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Rubus
- Species:
- Rubus occidentalis
- USDA Symbol:
- RUOC
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Subshrub
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white
- Food Forest:
- Contains edible parts
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
blackberry looper (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria), Britannia Acleris Moth (Acleris britannia), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Lettered habrosyne (Habrosyne scripta), Tischeria aenea, Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Brown-belted bumble (Bombus griseocollis), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Half-black bumble (Bombus vagans), Red-belted bumble (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus) Moths:Eight-spotted Forester (Alypia octomaculata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, bees, butterflies
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire. Often increases in abundance after disturbance.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in forest edges and open woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have double dormancy requiring warm stratification followed by cold stratification. Scarification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Scarify, then cold-moist stratify for 60 days.
Notes: Seeds may require light for optimal germination.
Source: Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Expose to fluctuating outdoor winter temps incl. freezing for 3 months. Increase light/temp in spring. Requires soaking 24-48 hrs; discard floaters.