Purple-flowering Raspberry

Rubacer odoratum

Found in rocky upland forests, boulderfields, rock outcrops and clearings, moist roadsides, and thickets, especially on base-rich substrates. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

Keystone

Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height: 3–6 feet
Spread: 4–8 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

Space about 6 ft apart from its recorded spread, about 3 per 100 sq ft. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

Rubacer odoratum — flower photograph — No machine-readable author provided. Sten assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: June to August
Fruiting season: July to October

JFMAMJJASOND

Recorded in 40 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 4

Rock outcrop on a mountain summit. Shown: Sassafras Mountain, on the North Carolina and South Carolina line, a neighboring state.Sassafras Mountain rock outcrop, Alan M. Cressler / U.S. Geological Survey, undated. Public domain. Source record. Faithful JPEG display decode of embedded JP2; no AI or color enhancement. Phone derivative resized proportionally.

Named place / source context. Shown: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia and Tennessee; which part is not recorded, a neighboring state.Wooded scene looking out over partially open fields, Richard Schlecht, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 26 animals.

American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Nighthawk
Chordeiles minor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eurasian Collared-dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Birds. 1 shared habitat
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Rough-legged Hawk
Buteo lagopus
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

149CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Rubus

Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Agrotis gladiariaSwordsman Dart, Clay-Backed Cut-Worm
Agrotis vetustaOld Man Dart
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth

Show all 149

Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anaplectoides prasinaGreen Arches Dart
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Ancylis floridanaStrawberry Leafroller
Ancylis muricanaRed-Headed Ancylis
Anisota senatoriaOrange-Tipped Oakworm Moth, Orangestriped Oakworm
Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
Anticlea vasiliataVariable Carpet
Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia quercifolianaYellow-Winged Oak Leafroller Moth, Lined Oak Leafroller
Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
Cepphis decolorariaDark Scallop Moth
Cerastis tenebriferaReddish Speckled Dart
Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaBlackberry Looper Moth
Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
Choristoneura obsoletanaObsolete Leafroller
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Coptotriche aeneaBlackberry Leafminer Moth
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Diachrysia ballucaSplendid Brass Looper, Green-Patched Looper
Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
Dysstroma truncataMarbled Carpet
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Epinotia medioviridanaRaspberry Leafroller
Erastria colorariaBroad-Lined Erastria
Erastria cruentariaThin-Lined Erastria
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eueretagrotis perattentusTwo-Spot Dart
Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
Euphyia intermediataSharp-Angled Carpet Moth, The Intermediate
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Eupithecia satyrataSatyr Pug
Eupsilia cirripaleaFranclemont's Sallow
Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
Feltia subgothicaSubgothic Dart
Geina tenuidactylaHimmelman's Plume Moth
Habrosyne scriptaLettered Habrosyne
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Haploa colonaColona Moth
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Hedya separatanaPink-Washed Leafroller Moth
Herpetogramma aeglealisSerpentine Webworm
Herpetogramma bipunctalisSouthern Beet Webworm, Two-Spotted Herpetogramma
Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
Herpetogramma thestealisZigzag Herpetogramma, Subtle-Feathered Grass Moth
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
Lacanobia grandisGrand Arches
Lascoria ambigualisAmbiguous Moth, Ambiguous Litter Moth
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Mesoleuca ruficillataWhite-Ribboned Carpet, Red-fringed Carpet
Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
Olethreutes furfuranumWoolly-Backed Moth
Olethreutes permundanaRaspberry Leafroller
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthodes majusculaRustic Quaker, Rustic Groundcat
Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Papaipema cataphractaBurdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer
Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Pennisetia marginatumRaspberry Crown Borer Moth
Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phlogophora irisOlive Angle Shades
Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
Pyrgus centaureaeGrizzled Skipper
Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
Pyrrhia ciliscaAmerican Bordered Sallow, Noble Sun Moth
Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Selenia alcipheariaNorthern Selenia, Northern Thorn
Spaelotis clandestinaClandestine Dart, W-Marked Cutworm
Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Spiramater lutraDarling Mamestra, Splashed Arches, Otter Spiramater, Otter Arches
Spodoptera dolichosSweetpotato Armyworm, Dolichos Armyworm, Large Cotton Armyworm
Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
Sutyna privataCheckered Sallow, Private Sallow
Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
Synchlora frondariaSouthern Emerald
Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Trichordestra legitimaStriped Garden Caterpillar Moth
Xanthorhoe lacustrataToothed Brown Carpet
Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
Xestia normanianusNorman's Dart
Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
Xylena nuperaRed Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm
Zale lunataLunate Zale
Zale minereaColorful Zale
Zophodia grossulariellaGooseberry Fruitworm Moth
Acleris maccana
Acleris macdunnoughi
Herpetogramma aquilonalis
Menesta tortriciformella
Monochroa disconotella
Olethreutes concinnana
Scythris basilaris

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

79BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Rubus

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

1Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Rubus

Andrena melanochroa

Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

48BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Rubus

Acanthis flammeaCommon Redpoll
Aix sponsaWood Duck
Aphelocoma californicaCalifornia Scrub-Jay
Bombycilla cedrorumCedar Waxwing
Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
Catharus fuscescensVeery
Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
Catharus minimus/bicknelliGray-cheeked/Bicknell's Thrush

Show all 48

Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
Coccothraustes vespertinusEvening Grosbeak
Colinus virginianusNorthern Bobwhite
Contopus virensEastern Wood-Pewee
Corvus caurinusNorthwestern Crow
Cyanocitta stelleriSteller's Jay
Dryocopus pileatusPileated Woodpecker
Empidonax alnorum/trailliiAlder/Willow Flycatcher (Traill's Flycatcher)
Empidonax difficilisPacific-slope Flycatcher
Euphagus cyanocephalusBrewer's Blackbird
Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush
Icterus bullockiiBullock's Oriole
Ixoreus naeviusVaried Thrush
Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
Melanerpes erythrocephalusRed-headed Woodpecker
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Melospiza melodiaSong Sparrow
Melozone crissalisCalifornia Towhee
Passerina cyaneaIndigo Bunting
Patagioenas fasciataBand-tailed Pigeon
Perdix perdixGray Partridge
Pheucticus ludovicianusRose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus melanocephalusBlack-headed Grosbeak
Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
Piranga ludovicianaWestern Tanager
Plectrophenax nivalisSnow Bunting
Sayornis nigricansBlack Phoebe
Sialia mexicanaWestern Bluebird
Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
Sturnus vulgarisEuropean Starling
Toxostoma redivivumCalifornia Thrasher
Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
Tyrannus tyrannusEastern Kingbird
Vireo griseusWhite-eyed Vireo
Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
Zonotrichia leucophrysWhite-crowned Sparrow

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rosaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: Pink or purple
Fruit begins: July
Fruit ends: October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “June to August” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) (ranked first; USDA PLANTS via EOL TraitBank differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Pink or purple” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Fruit begins · “July” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “October” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “3–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS via EOL TraitBank, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards differs)
Soil pH · “Acidic” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Spread · “4–8 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Flowering Raspberry; Purple flowering Raspberry; Rubus odoratus; blackberry

Conservation status

Virginia rank	S5
Global rank	G5
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.

Choose a county to begin.

How to check your spot

Purple-flowering Raspberry

At a glance

Natural habitats

Also found with this plant

Who uses this plant?

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Sources

More Rubacer