California Blackberry Pacific Blackberry Dewberry

Rubus ursinus Family: Rosaceae (Rose)

Flowers — color: white, size: 1/2", type: 5 petals

Go Back

color
style	five

California Blackberry has distinct male and female flowers on separate plants (dioecious — "two houses"). Each flower generally has five white petals and five smaller green sepals; male, diameter; female 1/4" diameter. Female flowers have a cone-shaped receptacle that will become the berry. I believe the left photo may show the proto-berry.

Habit:
California Blackberry is a trailing vine that can stretch more than six feet, or become a mounding shrub to four feet high. The primary cane (main stem) produces only leaves. In following years lateral branches or vines emerge and spread, bearing leaves and flowers.

The leaves may be simple lance-shaped or tri-lobed, hairy, and deeply veined. Leaflets often form 'groups of three' just like poison oak, but blackberry leaves have toothed edges, while poison oak's are smooth. The stems and main leaf veins have many sharp prickles.

California Blackberry fruit are enjoyed by local bears, hence the scientific name ursinus. It will feed other wildlife when bears aren't around. Native Americans mixed the fruit with dried meat to make pemmican cakes. It is used in gardens, but berry production generally requires the presence of both male and female plants.

Observations:
Shady areas near water.

Go Back