Rubus pergratus

Blanchard

Upland Blackberry

RosaceaeFruit
⚠ Dangerous Lookalikes — Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below
Rubus pergratus
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Rubus pergratus
iNaturalist · cc0
no rights reserved
Rubus pergratus
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) souptowntdubs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY
Red Baneberry
Red Baneberry
Actaea rubra
SAFE
Rubus pergratus
Upland Blackberry
Rubus pergratus
Actaea rubra
Actaea rubra
Rubus pergratus
Rubus pergratus

Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.

Upland Blackberry: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

North America, USA,

Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, St Vincent

How to Identify

A deciduous shrub growing to 3 m with hermaphroditic flowers attracting insect pollinators. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Suitable for mildly acidic to alkaline soils and tolerates semi-shade or full sun; performs best with consistent moisture.

How to Grow

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. According to one report this species is no more than a synonym of R. pensylvanicus. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation: Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed needs one month of stratification at around 3°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Prick out seedlings once large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame before planting into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July or August in a frame. Tip layer in July and plant out in autumn. Division can be done in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Other Uses

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

A deciduous shrub growing to 3 m with hermaphroditic flowers attracting insect pollinators. Adapts to light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Suitable for mildly acidic to alkaline soils and tolerates semi-shade or full sun; performs best with consistent moisture.

Notes

There are about 250 Rubus species.

References (2)
  • Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
  • Rhodora 8:96. 1906

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