Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Common Blackberry
Shrub·Rubus fruticosus
Full sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 5–9
Hardiness
Common Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) is a shrub. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruiting
Works well with
from wiki dataNo companions recorded.
WHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs moderate water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 5.5–7
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Prefers loam, clay, sandy loam soil
Tolerates some soil compaction
Draws up potassium, calcium, magnesium from deep in the soil
Adds a lot of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives mulch biomass (high)
Gives fruit (edible berries)
Gives nectar (abundant)
Gives pollen (abundant)
Provides potassium
Provides calcium
Provides magnesium
Attracts pollinators
Attracts birds
Attracts mammals
Shelters wildlife
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Shrub layer
Height100–300 cm
Spacing150 cm (min 100 cm)
Root depthMedium
Width100–300 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by seeds, cuttings, division, layering
Difficulty
Establishes in about 1 yr
Self-seeds readily on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed11 Sept 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded
Photograph Ivar Leidus · CC BY-SA 4.0