What does running blackberry look like?

Rubus hispidus is a low, trailing vine with wiry, bristly stems that spread along the ground rather than standing upright like many other blackberries.

When does running blackberry bloom?

Small white flowers appear in May and June, followed later by small sour berries.

What insects visit running blackberry flowers?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to the flowers of Rubus hispidus.

What growing conditions does running blackberry need?

It prefers part sun and consistently moist to wet soil, and is often found trailing through woodland edges, thickets, and boggy ground.

Does running blackberry keep its leaves in winter?

Its leaves are semi-evergreen, often staying leathery and green well into winter before eventually dropping.

Is Running Blackberry toxic to livestock?

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

Is Running Blackberry HOA-friendly?

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

Running Blackberry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Rubus hispidus

Last reviewed: August 2026

Rubus hispidus, running blackberry, is a trailing woody vine that blooms in May and June with small white flowers, doing well in part sun and moist woodland edges or clearings.

Toxicity unknown

Running Blackberry (Rubus hispidus) 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 Running Blackberry as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 24"–72" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, CT, DE, GA and 20 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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Running blackberry is a low-growing native groundcover that spreads by trailing stems to form colonies. It produces small white flowers in late spring followed by edible blackberries in summer, with leaves turning attractive colors in fall.

Growing Running Blackberry

Grow Running Blackberry in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 24 to 72 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Running 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 can overtake other plants
Thorny stems may be considered undesirable
Can appear unkempt without regular maintenance

Wildlife value

The flowers attract native bees and beetles in May and June. Birds and small mammals eat the berries, while the dense growth provides cover for ground-nesting wildlife.

Common questions

What does running blackberry look like?: Rubus hispidus is a low, trailing vine with wiry, bristly stems that spread along the ground rather than standing upright like many other blackberries.
When does running blackberry bloom?: Small white flowers appear in May and June, followed later by small sour berries.
What insects visit running blackberry flowers?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to the flowers of Rubus hispidus.
What growing conditions does running blackberry need?: It prefers part sun and consistently moist to wet soil, and is often found trailing through woodland edges, thickets, and boggy ground.
Does running blackberry keep its leaves in winter?: Its leaves are semi-evergreen, often staying leathery and green well into winter before eventually dropping.
Is Running Blackberry toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Running Blackberry as toxic to livestock.
Is Running Blackberry HOA-friendly?: Running 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.

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