california blackberry
Rubus ursinus
USDA zones3 to 9
SunHandles full sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to wet soil
Size2 to 6 feet tall4 to 6 feet wide
- Habit
- Subshrub
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- White , pink
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
California blackberry (Rubus ursinus) is a fruit for the food garden and as a ground cover. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and average to wet soil of most types. The berries are grown for eating raw or cooked, but the prickly stems make harvest tricky. Plants are male or female, so you need both for fruit. Prune during winter dormancy to control its spread and shape.
Pairs well with Thimbleberry, Douglas fir, and Redwood sorrel.
Native range
CA, ID, MT, OR, and 1 more places. See all 5
CA, ID, MT, OR, and WA; BC.