shrub

Creeping Raspberry

Rubus calycinoides

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Creeping Raspberry (Rubus calycinoides) at County Line Nursery

Creeping Raspberry foliage

Creeping Raspberry foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  12 inches

Spread:  6 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  6b

Other Names:  Crinkle-leaf Creeper, Rubus hayata-koidzumii

Description:

A unique, densely branched, trailing groundcover which is hardy and can be grown in shade as well as sunny locations; drought tolerant once established; perfect rambling over rocks, cascading over walls or as a lawn replacement, takes light foot traffic

Ornamental Features

Creeping Raspberry has attractive green foliage with white undersides which emerges light green in spring on a plant with a spreading habit of growth. The heart-shaped compound leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding burgundy in the fall, which persists throughout the winter. It has white flowers along the branches from late spring to early summer. It produces gold berries in late summer.

Landscape Attributes

Creeping Raspberry is a dense multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Creeping Raspberry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Groundcover
  • Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Creeping Raspberry will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Creeping Raspberry makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Rock  Groundcover  Naturalizing  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit  Foliage Color  Fall Color  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features