Rubus hispidus L.

Swamp dewberry, bristly blackberry, bristly dewberry

This diminutive semi-evergreen is technically sort of a micro-shrub. Although it can reach 8″ (20 cm) in height, it is usually close to the ground. It produces berries similar in appearance to those produced by its much larger sibling shrubs, such as blackberries and raspberries. Dewberry is native to eastern North America.

Plants: Swamp dewberry is actually a vine (liana), sometimes up to 8″ (20 cm) high, spreading along the ground via stolons, sometimes as far as 8′ (2.4 m). Stems are light green or red, with bristly hairs and some small prickles.

Leaves: Leaves are alternate, in clusters of three, obovate or ovate, and crenate or doubly crenate. Leaf clusters are on petioles (stems) up to 4″ (10 cm) long. Leaflets are 1–3″ (2.5–7.6 cm) long and less than 1″ (2.5 cm) wide.

Flowers: Flowers occur in groups of 3-6, each ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) in diameter, with five white wrinkly petals and five much smaller light green sepals. Flowers appear in early to mid summer.

Fruits: Fruits—drupes—resemble miniature blackberries, less than ½″ (1.3 cm) in diameter. Green or white at first, they become red, then dark purple or black.

Habitats: Disturbed soils, meadows, fields, and wetland and forest edges, preferring wet habitats, partial sunlight, and acid soils.

Edibility: Fruits are important nutritive sources for birds, but are sour tasting to people. They are edible.

Online References:

Older scientific or horticultural names

Rubus hispidus description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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