Pacific Dewberry

Rubus ursinus

Native to:
Canada, Mexico, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Rubus
Species:
Rubus ursinus
USDA Symbol:
RUVI4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Subshrub
Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
white
Food Forest:
Contains edible parts

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

Acleris keiferi, blackberry skeletonizer (Schreckensteinia festaliella), Britannia Acleris Moth (Acleris britannia), Marmara sp., orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia citrana), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia franciscana), Tischeria splendida

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Obscure bumble bee (Bombus caliginosus), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Moths:Coptotriche splendida Butterflies:Margined White (Pieris marginalis), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals, bears, bees, butterflies
Fragrant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from root crown following fire; often increases in density post-burn.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
Germination Time:
30–90 days
Notes:
Seeds require cold stratification; germination can be erratic and may take multiple seasons.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI