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Red Raspberry

Rubus idaeus

Also listed as Batidaea idaea, Rubus fragrans

Also known as Raspberry, Domestic Red Raspberry, European Raspberry

shrub☀️ full sun💧💧 moderate water❄ Hardy: Zone 4a – Zone 9b

Climate Match for your location

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A deciduous shrub prized for its sweet red berries produced in summer. Grows vigorously with thorny or thornless canes depending on cultivar.

Why grow it

Red raspberry produces fruit reliably across most temperate regions with minimal pest pressure compared to brambles like blackberry. It tolerates partial shade better than many berry crops and establishes quickly on marginal land. The canes are shorter and more manageable than some Rubus species, making harvest less labor-intensive.

Watch out for

Canes can spread aggressively from root fragments if not contained, requiring annual pruning to maintain boundaries. Disease pressure varies by region; in humid areas, anthracnose and spur blight can reduce yields if air circulation is poor.

Overview

Form
Upright
Growth Rate
fast
Size
3–4′ tall × 2–4′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous
Family
Rosaceae
EdibleMedicinalErosion controlHedgerowPollinators & beneficial insects

Native to the United States

Native Range

Europe and Western Asia

Native to: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Edible Parts

fruitleaf

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

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Companion Planting

Avoid near