Rubus flagellaris aka American Dewberry

Rubus flagellaris is a low shrub called northern dewberry. It belongs to the rose family and loses its leaves. Its native range covers eastern Canada and much of central and eastern America. It also reaches from Arizona into Mexico. It grows in dry fields, open ground, and thicket edges. Gardeners grow it for fruit or use it in wildlife areas.

The plant spreads across the ground like a woody vine. Trailing stems can reach 15 feet [4.6 metres] in length. Fruiting stems may rise to 4 feet [1.2 metres]. Its roots live for many years, but each stem lasts two. New stems grow each year from the rootstock. They bear fruit in their second year, then die. Young stems are green and turn brown with age. Hooked prickles grow along them. Near the base, the bark splits and peels. The green leaves grow in an alternate pattern along stems. Most have three leaflets, though some have five. Leaflets have toothed edges, pointed tips, and pale undersides.

White flowers bloom from April to May in small clusters. Each cluster holds one to five flowers with yellow stamens. Flowers open by day and shut at night. They can form fruit and viable seed without fertilization. These seedlings share the parent plant's genes. The fruit turns purple-black or black as it ripens. Fruit appears from May to July and tastes sweet and tart. Eat it fresh, or cook it in pies and preserves. Young spring shoots can be peeled and eaten raw. Dried leaves can be used for tea. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards.

Grow this dewberry in sun or partial shade. It grows well in loam where water drains freely. It also accepts sandy or clay soils. Suitable soil can be acidic or neutral, moist or sometimes dry. The plant tolerates heat and drought. It grows fast, needs little upkeep, and suits USDA zones 3–8. Its prickles can make handling awkward. Listed pests include raspberry and rednecked cane borers. Fusarium wilt is another reported problem.

Bees and butterflies visit the flowers for food. Birds and mammals eat the summer fruit. Deer and rabbits browse its leaves and stems. The spreading growth gives small animals cover. Dead, hollow stems provide nest sites for native bees. Leave shortened dead stems standing to preserve those nest sites. The fruit and green twigs also provide dyes.