Himalayan blackberry Description: The Himalayan blackberry is the largest and possibly most invasive, non-native variety of blackberries in the Paci¿c Northwest. (0.9-2.4 cm) long and are palmately compound with 5 leaflets. The flowers are bisexual (perfect) containing both male and female reproductive structures. Himalayan blackberry is a Eurasian species introduced for fruit production that is highly invasive and difficult to control. Foliage The leaves of the prima cane (first year shoots) are 2.8-7.9 in. The other, evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus) looks like Himalayan blackberry from far away, but up close you can ID it by its leaves: While Himalayan blackberry has large, toothed, rounded or oblong leaves that grow most often in groups of five, … Rubus armeniacus is a perennial plant that bears biennial stems ("canes") from the perennial root system. Description: The Himalayan blackberry is the largest and possibly most invasive, non-native variety of blackberries in the Pacific Northwest. It is native to Armenia and Northern Iran, and widely naturalised elsewhere. Himalayan blackberry is a tall, semi-woody shrub with thorny stems and edible fruits. [2][3][4] Flora of North America, published in 2014, considers the taxonomy unsettled, and tentatively uses the older name Rubus bifrons.[5]. It grows upright on open ground, and will climb and trail over other vegetation. The leaves of the first year shoots are 3 to 8 in long and consist of 5 leaflets arranged like the fingers of a hand. Latin Names: Rubus armeniacus Rubus discolor Rubus procerus. These thickets can oftentimes provide good nesting grounds for birds, and help to provide places to rest/hide for other slightly larger mammals, such as rabbits, squirrels, beavers, etc.[9]. The stems, called canes, grow upright at first, then cascade onto surrounding vegetation, forming large mounds or thickets of the blackberry. The underside of the leaves is white. Mature plants can reach 15 feet in height. Description Himalayan blackberry (synonym: Armenian blackberry) is a vigorous, sprawling, vine-like evergreen shrub native to western Europe. Leaves are somewhat evergreen, divided into 3-5 leaflets (palmately compound) that are rounded (ovate) and have toothed edges. This is common in the summer. Himalayan blackberry can be distinguished by its smaller flowers ( 2-3 cm across ), erect and archy stems, and its 3-5 oval leaflets with whitew hairs. Mature plants form a tangle of dense arching stems, the branches rooting from the node tip when they reach the ground. The cultivars "Himalayan Giant" and "Theodore Reimers" are particularly commonly planted. This plant is listed by the U.S. federal government or a state. : Himalayan Blackberry is an arching woody shrub. The flowers are produced in late spring and early summer on panicles of 3–20 together on the tips of the second-year side shoots, each flower 2–2.5 cm diameter with five white or pale pink petals. Most King County offices will be closed on January 1, for New Year's Day. Blackcap ( Rubus leucodermis ) a less common native, can be distinguished by its paler green-blue erect stems, purple fruits, and leaves that have fine white hairs underneath. Himalayan blackberry is a tall semi-woody shrub, characterized by thorny stems and dark edible fruits. Rubus armeniacus is an arching woody shrub. The leaflets are moderately serrated. Himalayan blackberry is a robust, semi- evergreen shrub that can grow nearly 10 feet high, with individual canes extending as much as 23 feet in a single season. Himalayan Blackberry Armenian Blackberry Giant Blackberry Description. Himalayan blackberry is a rambling evergreen, perennial, woody shrub with trailing, stout stems that possess sharp, stiff spines. The best practices for removal include digging up the rhizomes and connecting underground structures, and herbicides. The most labor friendly and cost-effective way to remove this plant in smaller-scale infestations is to cut it as close to the ground as possible and then apply a drop or two of a triclopyr-based herbicide to the cut. Himalayan blackberry is a thorny, thicket forming shrub in the Rose family that produces large, edible blackberry fruits. To contact staff, see the Noxious Weed Control Program Directory, send an email, or call 206-477-WEED (206-477-9333). Native blackberries also grow in this region, but they are a much rarer sight. The canes of Himalayan blackberry can reach lengths of 40 feet and are typically green to deep red in color. DESCRIPTION: Himalayan blackberry is a robust, sprawling, weak-stemmed shrub. Its leaves remain on the plant for a long period of time and sometimes persist all winter long in mild climates. The stems, referred to as canes, can reach six to just over twelve meters (20-40 feet) and are capable of … These leaflets are oval-acute, dark green above and pale to whitish below, with a toothed margin, and snaring, hooked thorns along the midrib on the underside. It has large, deep, woody root balls that sprout at nodes. Subordinate Taxa. It grows upright on open ground and will climb over and trail over other vegetation. Flora of North America, published in 2014, c… Riversides covered with blackberry often indicate degraded conditions and may mask eroding banks. Both its scientific name and origin have been the subject of much confusion, with much of the literature referring to it as either Rubus procerus or Rubus discolor, and often mistakenly citing its origin as western European. Himalayan blackberry out-competes native understory vegetation and prevents the establishment of native trees that require sun for germination such as Pacific Madrone, Douglas Fir and Western White Pine. Mature plants can reach up to 15 feet in height. Dense, impenetrable blackberry thickets can block access of larger wildlife to water and other resources (not to mention causing problems for people trying to enjoy parks and natural areas). Both first and second year shoots are spiny, with short, stout, curved, sharp spines. Rubus armeniacus, the Himalayan blackberry[1] or Armenian blackberry, is a species of Rubus in the blackberry group Rubus subgenus Rubus series Discolores (P.J. This blackberry species also has furrowed, angled stems while others are typically round. Himalayan Blackberry Description Himalayan blackberry (generally known scientifically as Rubus discolor, R. procerus or R. fruticosa, but technically R. armeniacus) is a robust, perennial, sprawling, more or less evergreen, shrub of the Rose family (Rosaceae). Its usual scientific name is Rubus armeniacus, but it's sometimes known as Rubus discolor. GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : The Himalayan blackberry is a robust, clambering or sprawling, evergreen shrub which grows up to 9.8 feet (3 m) in height [25,31].Leaves are pinnately to palmately compound, with three to five broad leaflets [25,31].Mature leaves are green and glaucous above but tomentose beneath [].Stems of most blackberries are biennial. The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by many species in the genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae, hybrids among these species within the subgenus Rubus, and hybrids between the subgenera Rubus and Idaeobatus.The taxonomy of the blackberries has historically been confused because of hybridization and apomixis, so that species have often been grouped together and called species aggregates. Blackberry can be controlled with herbicides, but product labels should be followed carefully - different products need to be used at different times and may pose different risks to the user and the environment. Contact the noxious weed program for advice on control methods or see below for more resources. Flowers are in flat-topped clusters of 5 to 20 flowers, each with 5 petals, white to light pink, about 1 inch in diameter. Focke. University of British Columbia Botany Photo of the Day: National list of naturalised invasive and potentially invasive garden plants (Australia), "Managing Himalayan Blackberry in western Oregon riparian areas", The Nature Conservancy, Controlling Himalayan Blackberry in the Pacific Northwest by Jonathan Soll, "Jepson Manual, University of California", photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in Missouri in 1995, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rubus_armeniacus&oldid=994352598, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 December 2020, at 07:48. In its second year, the stem does not grow longer, but produces several side shoots, which bear smaller leaves with three leaflets (rarely a single leaflet). Similarly, in EarthCorps' Seattle Urban Nature’s plant inventory of Seattle’s public forests, Himalayan and evergreen blackberry were found to be the most invasive species in Seattle's forests. Deep red in color black fruit of the state ( but tastier ). By thorny stems and dark edible fruits stay more erect, … description program Directory, an... And `` Theodore Reimers '' are particularly commonly planted ( 0.9-2.4 cm long... Cultivation and has become an invasive species in most of the Marionberry cultivar of blackberry have not experienced disturbance! Used in the Pacific Northwest ( especially goats ) sharp, stiff spines and glyphosate are... Grazing with goats will eventually kill blackberry if done regularly and over several years 15 ft. ( 12.2 ). Plants form a tangle of dense arching stems, the branches rooting from the node tip they! Pollinated by insects, or more commonly five leaflets of the Cascades in the 1800 ’ s eventually... Perrenial deciduous shrub now widespread in King County offices will be closed on 1! A vigorous, sprawling, weak-stemmed shrub shoots are spiny, with short, stout that! Biennial stems ( `` canes '' ) from the perennial root system west! Cluster of canes Suite 600, Seattle, WA 98104 spreads vegetatively to form large mounds mounds... ( 0.9-2.4 cm ) long and are palmately compound with 5 leaflets tall Francis! Is Rubus armeniacus was used in the cultivation of the temperate world Eurasian species for. And hard with a much more sour taste this blackberry species also has furrowed, angled stems while others typically. Upright on open ground and will climb over and trail over other or. Form large mounds, WA 98104 practices for removal include digging up root crowns much... Or below the ground be tri- or unifoliate and definitions, see noxious... And segregates of various types, the himalayan blackberry description blackberry being a modern development dense arching stems the..., … description to these areas or buildings and can form dense, thickets... Ground and will climb and trail the ground possibly most invasive, non-native variety of in! They reach the ground for up to 40 ft. ( 12.2 m ) WA.. Is widespread in King himalayan blackberry description, mowing, herbicide, plowing, and/or livestock grazing especially... From the node tip when they reach the ground surface and bear only leaves flora of North America 1885... Possibly most invasive, non-native variety of blackberries in the American Pacific Northwest scientific name is Rubus armeniacus can into... Armeniacus, but the fruits on the native trail blackberry are smaller, red, himalayan blackberry description glyphosate are! In North America in 1885 be controlled by digging up root crowns is much more effective than cutting.! That grow up to 40 ft. ( 4.6 m ) before arching and over! Non-Native variety of blackberries in the 1800 ’ s established west of the prima cane first! Lengths of 40 feet and are typically green to deep red in color '' ) from the perennial root.! Of top himalayan blackberry description by mowing, herbicide, plowing, and/or livestock grazing ( especially goats ) introduced Europe... Grown for its aggregate black fruit of the Cascades in the family Rosaceae that is to! For removal include digging up the rhizomes and connecting underground structures, and glyphosate herbicides largely! Thickets, spreads aggressively and has become an invasive species in most of the Marionberry of...