Purple-flowered Raspberry
Rubus odoratus
Also listed as Rubacer odoratum, Bossekia odorata
Also known as Purple Flowering Raspberry, Flowering Raspberry, Eastern Maple-leaved Raspberry
Climate Match for your location
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A deciduous shrub with velvety leaves and fragrant, large purple-pink flowers followed by edible raspberry-like fruit. Spreads by underground rhizomes and is excellent for naturalizing in woodland gardens.
Why grow it
Purple-flowered raspberry offers ornamental appeal through its velvety foliage and large fragrant flowers, which most raspberry species lack. Unlike thorny blackberries and many raspberries, this species has thornless canes, making it easier to manage in mixed plantings. The fruit is edible though less productive than cultivated raspberry varieties, so it functions best as a dual-purpose ornamental and wildlife plant rather than a primary fruit source.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously by rhizomes and can overtake nearby plantings if not contained; plan accordingly in smaller gardens or mixed borders. It performs best in partial shade and consistently moist soil; in hot, dry regions it may struggle with vigor or leaf scorch. Fruit production is typically modest and attracts wildlife, so expect variable harvests and competition from birds.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A deciduous shrub with velvety leaves and fragrant, large purple-pink flowers followed by edible raspberry-like fruit. Spreads by underground rhizomes and is excellent for naturalizing in woodland gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Purple-flowered Raspberry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Purple-flowered raspberry offers ornamental appeal through its velvety foliage and large fragrant flowers, which most raspberry species lack. Unlike thorny blackberries and many raspberries, this species has thornless canes, making it easier to manage in mixed plantings. The fruit is edible though less productive than cultivated raspberry varieties, so it functions best as a dual-purpose ornamental and wildlife plant rather than a primary fruit source.
Watch out for
This plant spreads vigorously by rhizomes and can overtake nearby plantings if not contained; plan accordingly in smaller gardens or mixed borders. It performs best in partial shade and consistently moist soil; in hot, dry regions it may struggle with vigor or leaf scorch. Fruit production is typically modest and attracts wildlife, so expect variable harvests and competition from birds.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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