Dewberry

 

Ecological Considerations:

The dewberries are a group of species in the genus Rubus, section Rubus, closely related to the blackberries. They are small trailing (rather than upright or high-arching) native brambles with aggregate fruits, reminiscent of the raspberry, but are usually purple to black instead of red. Unlike many other Rubus species, dewberries have separate male and female plants

This woody vine produces stems up to 15′ long; some of the flowering stems are more erect and up to 4′ tall. Old stems are brown and woody with scattered hooked prickles. Young stems are green with scattered hooked prickles; they are also more or less hairy. Alternate compound leaves occur at intervals along the stems. They are usually trifoliate with 3 leaflets; less often, compound leaves with 5 leaflets occur. These leaflets are up to 3″ long and 1″ across; they are ovate, doubly serrate along the margins, and mostly hairless. The underside of each leaflet is pale green, rather than white or velvety. Most leaflets have wedge-shaped bottoms and tips that taper gradually. The terminal leaflet has a short petiole (petiolule), while the lateral leaflets are sessile. Each compound leaf is connected to the stem by a long petiole. At the base of this petiole, there is a pair of small linear stipules.

Young stems often terminate in a corymb of 1-5 flowers. Each flower is about 1-1¼” across when fully open; it consists of 5 white petals, 5 lanceolate green sepals, and numerous stamens that surround a green cluster of carpels. The petals are longer than the sepals and they often have a somewhat wrinkled appearance. The blooming period occurs from mid-spring to early summer and lasts about 1-2 months. The flowers open up during the day and close at night. Each fertilized flower is replaced by a compound drupe up to 1″ long that is longer than it is broad. A fully ripened drupe becomes purple-black or black and it has a tart-sweet flavor. This drupe does not detach from its receptacle easily. The root system consists of a woody taproot. This woody vine spreads by reseeding itself; sometimes, the tips of young stems will root in the ground, forming vegetative offsets.

Map areas where this plant can be used for revegetation:

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Propagation Mechanisms/Strategies for Encouraging its Establishment:

Best Planting Practices/Options and Pros and Cons of Options:

This plant typically grows in full to partial sun and slightly wet to dry conditions. It tolerates different kinds of soil, including those containing loam, clay-loam, sand, or rocky material.

Key Issues Regarding its Ecology Associated Ecological Benefits:

The flowers attract both long-tongued and short-tongued bees. These insects suck nectar or collect pollen. The flowers also attract butterflies, skippers, and various flies. The drupes of Dewberry are an important source of summer food to many upland game-birds and songbirds. Mammals also eat the fruits, leaves and stems.

Availability of Locally Sourced Seeds and Plants:

Case Studies of Native Plant Establishment Efforts/Lessons Learned:

Additional photos:

Sources cited:
Search at Rhode Island Native Plant Guide
Go Botany
Wiki Dewberry

Key Words:
Native
Shrub
Bramble
Northern Dewberry
American Dewberry
Northern Blackberry
Rubus flagellaris Willd.