We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Rubus idaeus - L.

Common Name Raspberry, American red raspberry, Grayleaf red raspberry
Family Rosaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Moist neglected land, hedgerows and woodland edges[7, 11, 244].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain and temperate Asia.
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Rubus idaeus Raspberry, American red raspberry, Grayleaf red raspberry


Rubus idaeus Raspberry, American red raspberry, Grayleaf red raspberry

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Bloom Color: Green, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Rubus idaeus is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from April to November, in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Root  Shoots  Stem
Edible Uses: Coffee  Tea

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 5, 7, 61]. Delicious when eaten out of hand, the fruit is also used in pies, preserves etc[183]. Root - cooked. The root, which should be neither too young nor too old, requires a lot of boiling[7]. Young shoots - peeled and eaten raw or cooked like asparagus[172]. They are harvested as they emerge through the ground in the spring and whilst they are still tender. A herb tea is made from the dried leaves[21, 46, 183]. Another report says that a type of tea made from raspberry and blackberry leaves is an excellent coffee substitute[7].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiinflammatory  Astringent  Birthing aid  Cardiac  Decongestant  Oxytoxic

Antiemetic[13, 165]. The leaves and roots are anti-inflammatory, astringent, decongestant, ophthalmic, oxytocic and stimulant[4, 13, 165, 222, 254]. A tea made from them is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, as a tonic for the uterus to strengthen pregnant women, and as an aid in childbirth[4, 222, 257]. The tea has also been shown as effective in relieving painful menstrual cramps[222]. The active ingredients both stimulate and relax the uterus[222]. They can be used during the last three months of pregnancy and during childbirth, but should not be used earlier[238]. Externally, the leaves and roots are used as a gargle to treat tonsillitis and mouth inflammations, as a poultice and wash to treat sores, conjunctivitis, minor wounds, burns and varicose ulcers[238, 257]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and dried for later use[9]. The fruit is antiscorbutic and diuretic[7]. Fresh raspberry juice, mixed with a little honey, makes an excellent refrigerant beverage to be taken in the heat of a fever[21]. Made into a syrup, it is said to have a beneficial effect on the heart[21].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Cosmetic  Dye  Paper

Landscape Uses:Erosion control, Foundation, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Seashore. ts in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. Special Features: Not North American native, Attracts butterflies, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms. A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[168]. A fibre obtained from the stems is used in making paper[189]. The stems are harvested in the summer after the fruit has been eaten, the leaves are removed and the stems are steamed until the fibres can be stripped. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then hand beaten with mallets or ball milled for 3 hours. The paper is light brown in colour[189]. A decongestant face-mask made from the fruit is used cosmetically to soothe reddened skin[7].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a good deep well-drained loamy soil on the acid side[1, 34]. Dislikes very heavy soils[1, 200], light soils[4] and alkaline soils[200]. Prefers an open position but tolerates some shade[1]. Plants crop less well when grown in the shade of trees though they do well in the open on a north-facing slope[200]. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds[200]. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5[200]. Raspberries are frequently cultivated in temperate regions of the world, both in the garden and commercially, for their edible fruit. There are many named varieties able to supply fresh fruit from mid-summer to the autumn[1, 200]. High costs of picking the fruit means that little is actually sold fresh, most of the commercially cultivated crops either being used for preserves or grown for the 'Pick Your Own' trade. All the cultivars are self-fertile[200]. This species has biennial stems, it produces a number of new stems each year from the perennial rootstock, these stems fruit in their second year and then die[200]. It is best not to grow raspberries near blackberries or potatoes[18]. PlanFor polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a running thicket former forming a colony from shoots away from the crown spreading indefinitely [1-2]. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2]. Heat zone: 9-1.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and is best sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200]. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Ciscaucasia, Dagestan, Eastern Siberia, Georgia, Hebei Sheng, Heilongjiang Sheng (south), Jilin Sheng, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liaoning Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Russian Federation, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia, Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia, Shanxi Sheng, Western Siberia, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu,Turkey (north). NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, United States, Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana (north), Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois (north), Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska (Brown & Dawes Cos.), North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon (east), Washington, Wyoming, Maryland (west), North Carolina (west), Tennessee, Virginia (west), New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada (east), Utah, Mexico, Chihuahua, EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom (U.K.), Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation-European part, European part, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France, AFRICA: Algeria.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Actinidia rubus Climber0.0 -  LMHSNM30 
Rubus abbreviansVermont blackberryShrub0.0 0-0  LMHSNM301
Rubus acaulisDwarf RaspberryPerennial0.1 -  LMHSNM311
Rubus acer Shrub1.2 -  LMHSNM101
Rubus adenophorus Shrub2.5 5-9  LMHSNM201
Rubus adenotrichusMora ComunShrub2.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus affinis Shrub3.0 4-8  LMHSNM201
Rubus alexeterius Shrub2.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus allegheniensisAlleghany Blackberry, Graves' blackberryShrub3.0 3-7 MLMHSNM321
Rubus almusMayes Dewberry, Garden dewberryShrub2.0 7-10  LMHSNM301
Rubus amabilis Shrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM301
Rubus ampelinus Shrub3.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus arcticusArctic Bramble, Arctic raspberry, Dwarf raspberryPerennial0.2 2-7  LMHNM501
Rubus argutusHighbush Blackberry, Sawtooth blackberryShrub2.5 0-0  LMHSNM211
Rubus arizonicusArizona DewberryShrub0.2 -  LMHSNM203
Rubus australis Climber0.0 8-11  LMHSNM201
Rubus avipes Shrub2.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus baileyanusBailey's dewberryShrub1.0 0-0  LMHSNDM201
Rubus barbatus Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus bellobatusKittatinny BlackberryShrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM201
Rubus biflorusHimalayan RaspberryShrub3.5 0-0  LMHSNM301
Rubus bifronsHimalayan berry, Hybrid European blackberry, Hybrid blackberryShrub1.5 0-0  LMHSNM101
Rubus bloxamii Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus buergeri Shrub3.0 5-9  LMHSNM201
Rubus caesiusDewberry, European dewberryShrub0.2 4-8  LMHSNM201
Rubus calycinusWild RaspberryPerennial1.0 -  LMHSNM101
Rubus canadensisAmerican Dewberry, Smooth blackberryShrub2.5 3-7  LMHSNM411
Rubus candicans Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus caucasicus Shrub0.0 -  LMHSNM201
Rubus caudatus  0.0 -  LMHSNM201
123456

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1117200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Sarah Jumel   Fri Feb 2 2007

People wanting to grow this in warmer climates can try Caroline, Dinkum, and Autumn Bliss. All fruited (in containers) for me in New Orleans.

Boris   Wed Jun 20 2007

You can eat the young leaves - raw or cooked -, too.

Veronica   Mon Jun 8 2009

This is the only remedy (pharmaceuticals included)that has ever eased my menstrual cramps in over 25 years.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Rubus idaeus  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.