Rubus idaeus /ˈrʊbʊs/
Common name: Red raspberry
Rubus idaeus is a deciduous shrub in the rose family, native to Europe and northern Asia. It produces biennial canes from a perennial rootstock: first-year canes (primocanes) grow vegetatively, while second-year canes (floricanes) flower, fruit, and die. The familiar red "berry" is actually a cluster of small drupelets.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun
Water
Regular moisture, about 2.5 cm (1 in) per week
Soil
Slightly acidic, rich, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Zones 3–8
Mature height
1.5–2 m (5–6.5 ft)
Pet safe
Non-toxic; fruit safe for pets in small amounts
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Easiest by transplanting the rooted suckers that spring up around the parent plant; dig them up with a section of root in early spring or autumn and replant. It also layers readily by burying the tip of a cane in soil until it roots, and can be raised from root cuttings taken in winter.
Fun facts
- A raspberry is not a single berry but an aggregate of dozens of tiny drupelets.
- The species name "idaeus" means "of Mount Ida," referring to mountains in ancient Anatolia.
- Raspberries spread aggressively by underground suckers and can form dense thickets.
- Unlike blackberries, a picked raspberry leaves its core (receptacle) behind on the plant, making it hollow.