Purple-blue thorny canes with greyish cast are the reason for the latin name: leucodermis means "white bark". Long arching canes produce sweet black fruits on 2nd year wood, then die back. Hardy and widely adapted to sun or partial shade, but prefers moist soils. This Black Cap Raspberry species is native from CA to B.C., throughout WA, ID, MT. WY and UT. Not to be confused with the East Coast native black cap raspberry, Rubus occidentalis.
ZONE: 6-9
POLLINATION/BLOOM TIME: Spring
RECOMMENDED GROWING AND CARE:
Full to 1/4 sun, balanced and regular moisture (especially in early summer), acid to neutral soils. Reduce grass competition in root zone by applying 2-3" layer of wood chips. Cut out dead floricanes in summer after fruiting.
SIZE AT MATURITY: To 18'; thin canes are lightly spiny and sucker freely. Usually found scrambling along the ground as a groundcover. Canes are not vigorous, so trellising need not be sturdy.
