Rubus odoratus

Rubus odoratus
Purple-flowering raspberry cultivated in Denmark
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Rosales Family: Rosaceae Genus: Rubus Subgenus: Anoplobatus Species: R. odoratus
Binomial name
Rubus odoratus L.

Rubus odoratus (Purple-flowering Raspberry, Flowering Raspberry, or Virginia raspberry) is a species of Rubus, native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to Ontario, and south to Georgia and Alabama.^[1]

It is a shrub growing to 3 m tall, with (unlike many other species in the genus) perennial, not biennial stems. Also, unlike most other related species this plant does not have thorns. The leaves are palmately lobed with five (rarely three or seven) lobes, up to 25 cm long and broad, superficially resembling maple leaves. The flowers are 3–5 cm diameter, with five purple petals; they are produced from early spring to early fall. The fruit matures in late summer to early autumn, and resembles a large, flat raspberry with many drupelets, and is rather fuzzy to the touch and tongue.^[2][3][4][5]

Cultivation and uses

It is widely grown as an ornamental plant for its conspicuous flowers with a long flowering period. This plant likes partial shade, rich, slightly acid soil and moderate water. It is locally naturalized in parts of Washington^[6] and also in Europe, notably southeastern England.^[4]

References