Edible Nature in Seattle: Evergreen Blackberry Edition

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Many of our volunteers show up to our events already familiar with the invasive plant commonly known as Himalayan blackberry. But far fewer have encountered its closely related and also-invasive cousin Evergreen blackberry. We have only documented it at two of our restoration sites, but it is widely distributed around the Pacific Northwest. Below is a little more information on this troublemaker, so you can recognize it next time you spot it.

Scientific name: Rubus laciniatus.

General info: Evergreen blackberry most closely resembles Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), aside from its cut-leaf shape. Evergreen blackberry belongs to the Rose family, it produces edible berries that are best harvested in late Summer – July to August. It is a thorny, thicket forming shrub that can grow 13 feet tall. Similar to Himalayan blackberry, it forms large woody root balls that can make it difficult for removal.

Evergreen blackberry was introduced for its fast-paced fruit production; making it a European species. As described above, Evergreen blackberry is a highly invasive species and it is often difficult to remove due to its large, deep root balls. Often times efforts have to be repeated if the entirety of the root ball is not dug out.

Leaves: The most recognizable feature of Evergreen blackberry are its leaves. They come in a cut-leaf shape, making them easy to distinguish between its close relative – Himalayan blackberry. The leaves come in 3-5 leaflets that contain toothed edges.

 

Stem: Evergreen blackberry can grow as tall as 13 feet. Like its more familiar cousin, the stems are stiff, ridged, and thorny.

 

Flower: White to pink flowers bloom from July to August. They have 5 petals and often come in clusters as many as 20 or as few as 5.