How much light does Pacific blackberry need?

Pacific blackberry does best in part sun but is adaptable, growing in everything from open full sun clearings to the shaded edges of coniferous forests.

How much water does Pacific blackberry require?

This vine prefers medium moisture but tolerates both wetter streamside conditions and drier slopes once it is established.

When does Pacific blackberry flower?

Pacific blackberry blooms from May through July, producing small white flowers along its trailing canes.

What pollinates Pacific blackberry?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to the flowers, moving pollen between blossoms as they feed.

Is Pacific blackberry evergreen or deciduous?

Pacific blackberry is deciduous, dropping its leaves in fall after fruiting and regrowing new canes each spring.

Is Pacific Blackberry toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Pacific Blackberry as toxic to livestock.

Is Pacific Blackberry HOA-friendly?

Pacific Blackberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Pacific Blackberry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Rubus ursinus

Last reviewed: August 2026

Pacific blackberry is a trailing, thorny vine common along coastal bluffs, forest edges and stream banks in the Pacific Northwest and California, blooming from May through July.

Toxicity unknown

Pacific Blackberry (Rubus ursinus) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Pacific Blackberry as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

24"–120" H × 36"–240" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

CA, ID, MT, OR and 1 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Central California Valley Southern California Mountains Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Pacific blackberry is a sprawling native vine that produces white to pink flowers in late spring and summer, followed by edible dark berries. This vigorous grower can spread extensively through underground runners and forms dense thickets over time. The thorny canes die back in winter but return each spring.

Growing Pacific Blackberry

Grow Pacific Blackberry in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 120 inches tall and spread 36 to 240 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Pacific Blackberry takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: high. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Aggressive spreading habit difficult to control
Thorny canes create maintenance and safety concerns
Can appear very wild and unkempt

Wildlife value

Host plant for western tiger swallowtail.

The flowers attract native bees and beetles during the growing season. Birds and small mammals rely heavily on the nutritious berries in late summer.

Common questions

How much light does Pacific blackberry need?: Pacific blackberry does best in part sun but is adaptable, growing in everything from open full sun clearings to the shaded edges of coniferous forests.
How much water does Pacific blackberry require?: This vine prefers medium moisture but tolerates both wetter streamside conditions and drier slopes once it is established.
When does Pacific blackberry flower?: Pacific blackberry blooms from May through July, producing small white flowers along its trailing canes.
What pollinates Pacific blackberry?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to the flowers, moving pollen between blossoms as they feed.
Is Pacific blackberry evergreen or deciduous?: Pacific blackberry is deciduous, dropping its leaves in fall after fruiting and regrowing new canes each spring.
Is Pacific Blackberry toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Pacific Blackberry as toxic to livestock.
Is Pacific Blackberry HOA-friendly?: Pacific Blackberry takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Pacific Blackberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

Add this plant to your garden

iPhone app Android app

Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant

Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz