Rubus deliciosus

Torr.

Rocky Mountain raspberry, Boulder raspberry

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit 3,171 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Rubus deliciosus is a North American species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae, native to the United States. Common names include the delicious raspberry, boulder raspberry, Rocky Mountain raspberry or snowy bramble.

Description

A deciduous shrub reaching 3m at medium growth rate, hardy to UK zone 5 and frost-hardy. Flowers May to June with seeds ripening in July. Hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by bees. Requires full sun and well-drained soil; tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline conditions, preferring moist soil.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is rather dry and contains a high proportion of seeds relative to flesh, but the flavour is delicious. The hemispherical fruit is about 15mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

North America, USA,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position. A very ornamental plant, it is hardy to about -20°c. The flowers have a delicious perfume. This species is very closely related to R. trilobus. The plant has perennial stems and should not be pruned like normal raspberries. Instead it is sufficient to prune out any dead stems. There are no prickles on the stems. 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 stratification at about 3°c and should be sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame. Division can be done in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Other Uses

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

Notes

There are about 250 Rubus species.

Dangerous Lookalikes

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

DEADLY

Red Baneberry

Actaea rubra

Walter Siegmund (talk)

Safe

Rocky Mountain raspberry

Rubus deliciosus

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

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

References (7)

Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 2:196. 1828
Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 208
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 760
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

Show all 7 references