A berry tasty mystery: Identify Different Blackberries with this Visual Guide
→ Identifying different blackberry species that grow readily in the Pacific Northwest is important for ecological stewardship.
This guide will offer visual tools so you can tell the difference between our native berry species and invasive ones. While they are all tasty, it’s important to stop the spread of exotic species for the sake of our local ecosystem.
If you’re new to plant identification or foraging, blackberries in the Pacific Northwest are an easy species to start with.
As an aggregate berry - each little sphere on the berry is actually a single fruit - their shape helps set them apart from other berries. Pair that with their thorns, and you have a high level of confidence when noticing them in the wild.
When I first started my foraging journey in the Pacific Northwest, every blackberry looked the same to me.
But over the seasons, I began to notice subtle differences in taste and appearance. This curiosity led me to discover the wide variety of blackberry species, some native and some invasive.
My goats have been a great help in managing the invasive species in my yard.
In this visual guide, I share my PNW blackberry variety chart with you, along with the insights and images you need to become a skilled blackberry identifier.
Gain the right knowledge (and maybe a few prickly defenses) to ensure our wild berries and other native plants thrive in the ecosystem we all love.
Blackberry Quick Facts:
Understanding these botanical nuances not only helps in identification but also deepens your appreciation for the diversity within the Rubus genus.
Family: Roses
Genus:Rubus
Other Members of the Rubus Genus: Raspberries, Dewberries, Cloudberries, Arctic Berries, Thimbleberries
For many of the species we'll cover in this article, their botanical name offers insight to some of their distinguishing features.
Varieties of Blackberries
Common Name
Scientific Name
Meaning
European Blackberry
Rubus vestitus
Vestitus (clothed) - covered or dressed in thick white hairs
Cutleaf Evergreen Blackberry
Rubus laciniatus
Laciniatus (lacerated) - deeply cut
Giant Himalayan Blackberry
Rubus praecox
Praecox (precocious) - fruit matures early
Armenian Blackberry
Rubus armeniacus
From Armenia
Himalayan Blackberry
Rubus bifrons
Bi (two) + frons (leaf) - Sometimes called "twice-leaved blackberry," no clear information on this but I like to think of it as an indicator of its two bottom leaves being connected, where the bottom leaf stem is attached to the stem of the middle leaf instead of the main leaflet stem.
Wild Blackberry Species Found in the PNW: Visual Identification Guide
Here is the sortable + interactive chart to easily see the different characteristics of each blackberry species that is commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest - both native and invasive species.
Scroll through to see the main distinctions. To learn more about each species and see citations, see more detailed descriptions below. Species with * are native to the PNW
Table with Sortable Columns
Species Name
Common Names
Bloom Color
Stem Color
Leaflets
Prickles
Distinguishing Features
Rubus ursinus
Trailing Blackberry*
White
Bluish-green (young), brown (old)
3
Many, straight, slender, weak
Deciduous leaves in groups of three; ovate leaves
Rubus leucodermis
Blackcap Raspberry*
White
Whitish coating on stems
5 (1st year), 3 (2nd year)
Can have none
Hollow center of berry; shorter than wide, a raspberry
Rubus laciniatus
Cutleaf Evergreen Blackberry
White to Soft Pink
Green to Reddish-Purple
5
Straight to slightly curved, stiff
Deeply cut leaves with pointed tips; height 8-13 ft
Blackcap Raspberry, PNW Native Berry; Photo CC0 dwightkingsbury on iNaturalist
Blackcap Raspberry Rubus Leucodermis:
aka Black Raspberry, Whitebark Raspberry, Western Raspberry
Note: Not a blackberry, but a black berry
Bloom Color: White
Leaflets: first year canes have five leaflets on leaves; second year canes have three leaflets on leaves, leaves have a more crinkled appearance
Distinguishing Feature: Whiteish coating on stems; center of berry is hollow (unlike a true blackberry); white coating over black berries that are often shorter than they are wide (opposite a true blackberry)
Now, here’s where things get tricky: The invasive blackberry commonly referred to as “Himalayan” Blackberry has a few uncertainties and complexities within the plant taxonomy world.
In fact, Brianna Richardson wrote in a 2004 edition of Cal-IPC News: "The Rubus genus is socomplicated that another Latin phrase has also been applied to it: Rubus crux botanicorum, or "Rubus is the botanists’ cross.""
For the person who just wants to know if they have an invasive species or not, I recommend going with Option 1 to keep it simple.
This will essentially combine the three species commonly called Himalayan Blackberry into one. Since they are all non-native to the PNW, your goal of identifying if you have one of them will be accomplished.
For the real plant nerd (I’m there with you friend), expand Option 2 for an in-depth exploration of the total chaos of these plant species.
Bloom Color: White to Pink Distinguishing Features: Large ovate leaflets, stems hairless or with sparse hairs, berry clusters small (unlike Elmleaf Blackberry)
Alright friends, buckle up. This is where things get fascinatingly complex, but oh so interesting for the plant nerds among us.
First, you’ll notice that many local, state, and national government information sites talk about Himalayan and Armenian Blackberry in an interchangeable way.
For example, King County WA and WMSCD sites often use these terms synonymously.
While this might seem confusing, it actually makes sense because these species share many similar characteristics and invasive qualities.
From a Conservation Perspective: The primary concern isn't necessarily distinguishing between these species, but rather identifying them as non-native invaders to protect our native flora.
While the three species commonly referred to as "Himalayan" blackberry (Rubus praecox, Rubus bifrons, and Rubus armeniacus) share many similarities, there are some key differences in their appearance and growth characteristics:
Rubus praecox can be distinguished by its hooked prickles on fruiting stem ends and its ability to get rust disease.
Rubus bifrons has thin, slender prickles on its first year canes and straight, thin prickles on fruiting stem ends.
Rubus armeniacus has stout prickles on first year canes that are red at the base and straight prickles on fruiting stem ends.
All three species are considered invasive in the Pacific Northwest and negatively impact native ecosystems. Identifying and removing these species is an important part of land stewardship in the region
If you're like me and love diving into the nuances, let's explore these distinctions further.
Scientific Discussion and Nuances
I stumbled upon this fascinating discussion thread that noted several scientific directories are leaning towards combining both Armenian and Himalayan into the Rubus bifrons species.
In that discussion thread, I learned from “chemistree” that the California Invasive Plants Council distinguishes three species from each other - R. armeniacus, R. bifrons, and a not frequently mentioned R. praecox.
And guess what? They say the R. praecox species is actually quite common in Oregon!
Species in my backyard that I think is Armenian Blackberry or Rubus armeniacus based on its straight prickles at the fruiting end
Armenian Blackberry Rubus armeniacus:
Bloom Color: pale pink, very long stamens compared to style
Prickles on First Year Stems: stout; red at the base
Prickles on Fruiting Stem End: straight, pointed downwards*
In another location of my yard, the curved prickles at the fruiting end of this blackberry bush leads me to believe it's Rubus praecox, or Himalayan Giant Blackberry
Rubus bifrons or Himalayan Blackberry - observation in Germany CC-BY-NC enkidoo on INaturalist
Himalayan Blackberry Rubus bifrons:
Bloom Color: pale pink; bright pink
Prickles on First Year Stems: slender, strong, usually dark purple entire or at tip; 10-15 per 5cm.
Prickles on Fruiting Stem End:thin & straight*, red at base
Leaves: Stems of the bottom leaflets are attached to the stems of the leaflets above them (unlike the other "Himalayan" species, which have thei stem attached to the main leaflet stem). This is by a few milimeters and can be difficult to distinguish if you don't know to look for it.
One thing to know about blackberries - and all Rubus species - is that they easily crossbreed. This creates hybrids that can display characteristics of both parent species. As if we needed more complication to this genus!
Blackberry ID and Land Stewardship
“Himalayan blackberry is listed as one of the 40 most invasive woody angiosperms worldwide and is considered one of the worst weeds in southern Australia and western Oregon "- Canadian Journal of Plant Science
Himalayan Blakcberries negatively impact the surrounding landscape because they:
crowd out native vegetation that wildlife depend on
prevent important trees, such as ponderosa pine and garry oak, from thriving due to its shade-forming canopy
have shallow roots compared to native species with long roots, on stream banks they can hasten erosion instead of prevent it
infiltrate farms, causing yield losses and increased management costs; spreads a disease that damages grapes on vineyards
infiltrate forests, causing habitat change and increased management costs
create a barrier that large animals cannot move through
animals do not graze on leaves/stems usually (except for goats and deer) because of its prickles
The abundance of wild blackberries in the Pacific Northwest can make the months of July, August, and September feel like a never-ending dessert. Just take a stroll through any natural area, and you’re likely to find brambles loaded with fruit.
When you learn to identify these tasty berries, you can then become an active participant in ecological conservation in your own backyard.
