Black Raspberry

Description: It is a deciduous shrub, growing 7-10 ft tall with strong growing thorny stems. The toothed leaves grow in leaflets of 3 (or rarer 5). The first year's growth does not flower/fruit and is called primocanes. Primocanes are green with delicate light-colored powdery dust. The second-year growth canes are called floricanes. The 2nd year canes are purple and will grow fruit off of lateral stems. Pruning of vertical stems promotes lateral fruit-bearing growth. The berry starts green, changes to red, but is not ripe until it's dark purple or black. Once the fruit is ripe it will separate from the plant with a light tug. Each berry will contain druplets (druplet = round bump). The druplets form a hollow thimble or cup shape.

The thorns on the stems are spaced apart. The leaves are double-toothed with a long taper to a slender tip, round or heart-shaped at the base. The underside of the leaf is white/silvery and densely hairy underneath and green on top.

Edible Parts: The fruit. The leaves are used for teas.

Notes: The Black Raspberry canes have grown in our yard/valley since we moved in and all over the near-by trails.

Blackberries or Black Raspberries...What is the difference? I'm sure there are many, but here are a few. The center of a Blackberry is filled with a white pith and is not hollowed out. The center of a Black Raspberry is hollow and more cup/thimble-like. The thorns of a Black Raspberry are more spaced apart more like a rose bush. The thorns of a Blackberry are more abundant like a porcupine. Also, the Black Raspberry is much sweeter than a Blackberry.

Contributor:

JRH