Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Rosales>Rosaceae>Rubus occidentalis L.

Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

Common in the Mountains, but scarce in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina, this prickly shrub is easily recognized by its glaucous stems and leaf undersides.

The fruits turn from red to black as they ripen and are quite delicious.

Caswell Co., NC 5/30/10.

Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

Like other raspberries (subgenus Idaeobatus), the ripe fruit separates from the receptacle; with blackberries (subgenus Rubus), the receptacle breaks off with the fruit. Botanically speaking, the "berry" is an aggregate fruit composed of many drupelets.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/2/06.

Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

The leaf undersides are bright white.

Carroll Co., VA.

Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

The stems are ghostly white.

Alleghany Co., NC 7/2/06.

More information:
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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