PlantsFruits & Berries
Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Edible bramble and wildlife cover
ModerateFruits & BerriesAlso Shrubs & VinesEdible
- Light
- Full sun–part shade
- Moisture
- Medium
- Mature size
- 3–6 ft
- Spacing
- 3–6 ft
- Bloom or harvest
- Flowers May; fruit Jun–Jul
- How it spreads
- Arching thorny canes
- What to buy
- Container or balled-and-burlapped; bare-root in early spring.
- When to plant
- Early Apr–May after soil thaws and drains; Sep–mid Oct for container/B&B. Bare-root: early spring.
In the design
Trellis or tip-prune; remove spent canes after fruiting.
If you eat it
Ripe black raspberries fresh or preserved
Wear gloves around canes
Only eat what you planted and can name. This is not a foraging or medical guide.
