Black Raspberry
Black raspberries have slender prickly branches that are more prominent thorny than red raspberries.
Rubus occidentalis aka Black Raspberry is drought tolerant. Thorny branches provide good shelter for birds and can be planted around property edges to prevent trespassers.
Edible fruit often used in pies or preserves or simply eaten raw. Dried leaves can be made into a herb tea. Attracts birds, butterflies, bees and other showy insects. Birds and mammals
feed on the berries.
Black Raspberry Characteristics
Leaves: Green foliage with five leaflets with the middle one being the largest.
Stem/Bark: Slender prickly branches that are more prominent thorny than red raspberries.
Flower: White flowers May to June.
Fruit/Nut: Delicious, edible fruit ripens in summer at different rates creating an attractive display of red, purple and black berries. Fruit is finely hairy.
Habit: Erect arching stems that trail along the ground, spreading to form thickets and colonies. Fast growing.
Hardiness: Zone 3
Height: 4’ – 6’
Width: 6’ – 8’
Why grow native plants?
A native plant is defined as a species of fauna that was already established before colonization. There are numerous benefits to the use of native plants. Native plants have grown and evolved in a given area for generations and therefore are more prepared to face the elements. As a result they are much hardier and less finicky to care for. The wildlife in the area has also evolved along side these plants, and because of this has formed bonds with them. Most butterflies have a specific plant species from which they collect nectar for their offspring.
There are many birds that will feed directly from local trees for seed, nectar or fruit, but won’t use the bird feeder you’ve bought to attract them. These plants also work together to grow as natural plant communities. Most of the trees won’t grow their leaves until after the wildflowers have had an adequate amount of time to flower before they’re covered by shade. Finally, of course, there is the fact that all of these plants and animals combine to make a sustainable, complete, functioning ecosystem. Why fight thousands of years of evolution?
Have questions about native plants? Post a comment Ian will get back to you.
