Family: Rosaceae
Author: Willd.
Bibliography: Enum. Pl. Hort. Berol. 2: 549 (1809)
Year: 1809
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Rubus
Vegetable: False
Observations: E. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A., Arizona to Mexico
Description
American dewberry, known scientifically as Rubus flagellaris, is a member of the Rosaceae family, a diverse group notable for their flowering plants. Originating as a description by the esteemed taxonomist Willdenow, this plant was first officially cataloged in 1809 in the “Enumeratio Plantarum Horti Botanici Berolinensis”.
This species of dewberry is widely distributed across a diverse range of climates and regions in North America. It can be found thriving from Eastern Canada, stretching down through central and eastern parts of the United States, and extending as far south as Arizona and Mexico. The broad adaptability of Rubus flagellaris speaks to its hardy nature and ecological versatility.
Beloved for its sweet and edible fruit, the American dewberry typically features thorny canes and a low trailing growth habit that makes it distinguishable among other members of the Rubus genus. The plant’s ability to spread and form dense, prickly thickets can make it both a boon to berry foragers and a bane to land managers. These brambles bloom in the spring, offering delicate white flowers that subsequently give way to clusters of small, dark berries by summer.
Given its extensive range and robust characteristics, Rubus flagellaris not only contributes ecological value by providing food and habitat to wildlife but also holds economic and culinary significance to humans. The berries are often harvested for their tangy-sweet flavor, suitable for fresh consumption or in an array of preserves and baked goods.
In summary, the American dewberry remains a remarkable example of the plant kingdom’s adaptability and utility, underlining the intricate relationships between flora and their environments across the varied landscapes of North America.
Common Names
Eng: american dewberry, northern dewberry, whiplash dewberry, common dewberry, prickly raspberry
Fra: ronce à flagelles
En: American dewberry, Northern dewberry, Whiplash Dewberry, Common Dewberry, Prickly raspberry
Ar: عوسج مداد
Fr: Ronce à flagelles
Synonyms
- Rubus alacer (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus macdanielsii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus scambens (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus mundus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus exlex (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus schoolcraftianus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus roribaccus ((L.H.Bailey) Rydb.)
- Rubus exemptus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus arizonensis (Focke)
- Rubus pityophilus (S.J.Sm. ex L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus ricei (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus gordonii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus conabilis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus tantulus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus flagellaris var. michiganensis ((Card ex L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus iniens (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus maltei (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus polybotrys (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus jactus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus flagellaris var. almus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus temerarius (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus clairbrownii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus almus ((L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus subinnoxius (Fernald)
- Rubus camurus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus neonefrens (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus russeus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus foliaceus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus connixus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus felix (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus oligospermus (Thornber ex Rydb.)
- Rubus beamanii (Widrl. & B.P.Riley)
- Rubus villosus var. michiganensis (F.W.Card ex L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus arenicola (Blanch.)
- Rubus bonus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus dives (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus michiganensis ((Card ex L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus fandus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus tetricus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus uvidus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus housei (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus hancinianus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus uniflorifer (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus trivialis (Pursh)
- Rubus canadensis var. roribaccus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus lundelliorum (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus ashei (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus alius (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus profusiflorus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus prosper var. cordifrons (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus flagellaris var. occidualis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus injunctus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus pluralis ((L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus flagellaris var. geophilus ((Blanch.) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus enslenii var. pluralis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus clandestinus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus masseyi (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus indianensis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus procumbens (Muhl.)
- Rubus flagellaris f. roseoplenus ((E.J.Palmer & Steyerm.) Steyerm.)
- Rubus procumbens subsp. subuniflorus ((Rydb.) Rydb.)
- Rubus obsessus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus frustratus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus ignarus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus aptatus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus folioflorus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus imperiorum (Fernald)
- Rubus sailori (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus decor (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus celer (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus multifer (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus bollianus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus whartoniae (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus pernagaeus (Fernald)
- Rubus mainensis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus terraltanus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus particularis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus tracyi (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus inobvius (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus serenus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus uncus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus occultus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus flagellaris var. humifusus ((Torr. & A.Gray) B.Boivin)
- Rubus villosus var. roribaccus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus steelei (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus × urbanianus (A.Berger)
- Rubus sewardianus (Fernald)
- Rubus florenceae (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus lassus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus complex (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus procumbens var. roribaccus ((L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus baileyanus (Britton)
- Rubus vagus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus flagellaris var. roribaccus ((L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus jaysmithii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus longipes (Fernald)
- Rubus clarus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus ferrofluvius (H.A.Davis, A.M.Fuller & T.Davis)
- Rubus scolocaulon (Brandegee)
- Rubus rhodophyllus (Rydb.)
- Rubus cordialis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus eflagellaris (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus meracus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus flagellaris f. roseus (Steyerm.)
- Rubus tenuicaulis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus aboriginum (Rydb.)
- Rubus currulis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus particeps (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus exsularis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus occidualis ((L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus satis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus rosagnetis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus geophilus (Blanch.)
- Rubus ithacanus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus plexus (Fernald)
- Rubus pohlii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus apogaeus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus vixalacer (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus depavitus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus maniseesensis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus jaysmithii var. angustior (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus localis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus cacaponensis (H.A.Davis & T.Davis)
- Rubus obvius (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus grimesii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus subuniflorus (Rydb.)
- Rubus sanfordii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus redundans (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus deamii (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus centralis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus cordifrons ((L.H.Bailey) L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus canaanensis (H.A.Davis & T.Davis)
- Rubus arenicola var. confictus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus austrinus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus fecundus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus pauperrimus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus minnesotanus (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus kentuckiensis (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus curtipes (L.H.Bailey)
- Rubus cathartium (Fernald)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arizona (native)
- Arkansas (native)
- Connecticut (native)
- Delaware (native)
- District of Columbia (native)
- Florida (native)
- Georgia (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Indiana (native)
- Iowa (native)
- Kansas (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Louisiana (native)
- Maine (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Mexico Central (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Mexico Southwest (native)
- Michigan (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- Mississippi (native)
- Missouri (native)
- Nebraska (native)
- New Brunswick (native)
- New Hampshire (native)
- New Jersey (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- New York (native)
- North Carolina (native)
- Nova Scotia (native)
- Ohio (native)
- Oklahoma (native)
- Ontario (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Prince Edward I. (native)
- Québec (native)
- Rhode I. (native)
- South Carolina (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Virginia (native)
- West Virginia (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Azores (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Northern Provinces (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Jun 21, 2018 by Mango Don (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 16, 2021 by Boreas46 (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2021 by u u (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Andy Broczkowski (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2021 by u u (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken May 22, 2022 by Matthias Foellmer (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 21, 2018 by Mango Don (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 21, 2018 by Mango Don (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 27, 2021 by Stacey A (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 27, 2021 by Stacey A (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken May 6, 2021 by u u (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Aug 16, 2021 by Boreas46 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 5, 2020 by stan sperlak (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2021 by Frank Crystal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 26, 2021 by Dominik Etzthaler (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jun 11, 2020 by Jon Webb (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30083253-2)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2992071)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Rubus flagellaris Willd.)
Specifications
Growth form>: Thicket Forming
Growth habit>: Subshrub
Growth rate>: Rapid
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.0
Ph minimum: 5.0
