Pacific Blackberry — Rubus ursinus

Bring a taste of the wild West Coast to your garden with the California Native Blackberry, also known as the Pacific Blackberry (Rubus ursinus). This hardy, vining shrub is native to the Pacific Coast and a favorite among pollinators, wildlife, and gardeners alike.

🌸 Plant Features

• Native Range: California to British Columbia

• Type: Perennial, deciduous vine or trailing shrub

• Growth Habit: Sprawling canes up to 6–10 feet long

• Light: Full sun to part shade

• Water: Low to moderate (drought-tolerant once established)

• Soil: Well-drained; adapts to clay, sand, or loam

• Bloom Time: Spring to early summer (white to pale pink flowers)

• Fruit: Sweet, small blackberries loved by birds, bees, and people!

🌱 Why You’ll Love It

• Edible & Delicious: Produces sweet-tart berries perfect for fresh eating or jam.

• Wildlife Friendly: Supports native bees, butterflies, and songbirds.

• Low Maintenance: Thrives with little care once established.

• Erosion Control: Great for slopes or naturalized areas.

🪴 In the Garden

Plant your blackberry in full sun for best fruiting. Provide room to sprawl or train along a fence or trellis. Prune in late winter to encourage new growth.

Botanical Name: Rubus ursinus
Common Names: Pacific Blackberry, California Blackberry, Douglas Dewberry

Representative plant photograph; not the actual nursery specimen. Photo: Gaia Leo, CC BY-SA 4.0; image source. Original photograph reproduced without edits.