How to identify European blackberry (Rubus bifrons)

How to identify European blackberry (Rubus bifrons)

European blackberry, also known as Himalayan berry, Hybrid European blackberry

European blackberry is characterized by its robust, sprawling habit, often forming thickets up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. The leaves are typically trifoliate, with oval to diamond-shaped leaflets, ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches (3.8 to 7.6 cm) in length. Each leaflet is sharply toothed, with prickly stems and petioles. During the flowering season, european blackberry produces white to pinkish flowers with five petals, measuring about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across. The fruit is a composite of small drupelets that forms a larger, edible blackberry when mature.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Shrub, Vine

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify European blackberry

Robust plant forming thickets up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall.

Trifoliate leaves with toothed oval to diamond-shaped leaflets.

White to pink flowers in large clusters each around 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.

Succulent black drupelets aggregate into a glossy, deep purple fruit.

Hairy stem with hooked prickles, arching and creeping as it ages.

Detailed Traits of European blackberry

Leaf Features

The leaves of european blackberry are palmately compound, featuring three or five leaflets. They are deciduous to semievergreen with a terminal leaf that is elliptic, ovate, or suborbiculate. The base is rounded to shallowly cordate, with unlobed edges that are moderately to coarsely serrate. The apex is acute to short-attenuate. The undersides are white or gray-green with hooked prickles on the largest veins and are covered in short velutinous to tomentose hairs.

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Flower Features

The flowers of european blackberry are white or pink and are notably found in large clusters at the ends of branches. Each cluster can contain up to 100 flowers, creating a striking visual display. The blooms, which appear from April to June, feature five delicate petals arranged in a star-like fashion. The overall size of each flower is typically around 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. These flowers are essential for identification due to their abundant and clustered nature.

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Stem Features

The stem of european blackberry is arching and sometimes creeps, becoming more so with age. It varies from sparsely to densely hairy, with hairs that are either eglandular or sparsely sessile-glandular. The surface is not or weakly pruinose. Prickles are moderately dense, hooked, and can be erect, stout, and broad- or narrow-based, offering great physical distinction.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of european blackberry is a succulent aggregate of drupelets, typically around 3/4 of an inch (approximately 2 cm) in length. When ripe, the fruit exhibits a deep purple to black hue, with a glossy sheen and plump appearance. Each individual drupelet is rounded with a smooth surface, tightly clustered together to form the overall conical to slightly elongated shape of the fruit. Notably juicy and commonly bearing a sweet, slightly tart flavor, the fruit has a soft yet firm flesh that encases tiny seeds, giving it a somewhat grainy texture.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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European blackberry and Their Similar Plants

Red raspberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

Red raspberry is a perennial forest shrub with elongated, thorny stems. The stems grow rapidly during their first year and bloom in their second year. The plant produces small, aggregate fruit that has a distinct aroma and a sweet-and-sour taste. Rubus idaeus cultivars are hybrids between this red raspberry and the American species R. Strigosus.

Common blackberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

Common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) is a deciduous shrub endemic to North America. This wild plant is commonly found on clearings and woodland margins. Its fruit is edible and has a sweet, mildly spicy taste. The fruits are most commonly eaten raw, but they can also be cooked or dried.

Black raspberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

The black raspberry is occasionally grown commercially, although not very popular due to its low yield. Black raspberry can be consumed dried, frozen, fresh, as a purée, juiced or in liqueur. Besides, it can also be used as a natural dye.

Wineberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

Wineberry (*Rubus phoenicolasius*) is a plant species native to northeast Asia. Wineberry has been naturalized in both Europe and North America as an ornamental plant. This plant is edible, and its berries are sometimes mistaken for raspberries or blackberries.

Northern dewberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

Northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris) is a perennial shrub related to the rose. Northern dewberry has a fragrant smell and attracts many bees to serve as pollinators. The berries from northern dewberry are edible and commonly made into pies.

Southern dewberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

The southern dewberry is a delicious and edible fruit-bearing plant with dark blueberries that can appear black. The taste is sweet and can be used for jams or pies. The leaves, meanwhile, can be used to make tea. It is a special delicacy in the southern United States, where the Rubus trivialis originated.

Salmonberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

Salmonberry is a shrub growing to 1.07 to 4 m tall. It is known for its fruit, which bears resemblance to a raspberry. This plant earned its common name due to the fact that these berries were traditionally eaten by Native Americans with salmon or salmon roe. The taste of the berries themselves is somewhat bland but depends on the climate and site of growth.

Purple-flowering raspberry vs. European blackberry: What's The Difference?

The purple-flowering raspberry is a type of raspberry bush with large showy flowers and no thorns or prickers to get in your way. The flowers on this bush will last throughout the summer, giving way to some tart, though still edible, small-sized berries. Also known as the thimbleberry or Rubus odoratus, this delightful bush can spread into large thickets.

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Key Facts About European blackberry

Attributes of European blackberry

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Shrub, Vine

Plant Height

50 cm

Spread

60 cm to 6 m

Leaf Color

Green

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of European blackberry

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Roses, elms, figs, and allies

Family

Rose

Genus

Brambles

Species

European blackberry (Rubus bifrons)

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Distribution Map of European blackberry

European blackberry is a plant whose native range spans across central and southern regions of Europe. It has subsequently been introduced to several areas in Northern Europe. As european blackberry adapts to new territories, its presence now includes temperate parts of two major regions: its natural European domain and some cooler northern locales where it has been introduced.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the European blackberry

A Comprehensive Guide to European blackberry How to Grow and Care for European blackberry