Allegheny Blackberry

Rubus allegheniensis

Keystone

Native to West Virginia (estimated). How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height: 4–8 feet
Spread: 4–10 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

Space about 7 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

Rubus allegheniensis — foliage photograph — Hummer, K., USDA, ARS · Public domain · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: Mid spring
Fruiting season: Summer

Recorded in 26 West Virginia counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in West Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 51 animals.

Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Regulus satrapa
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Long-eared Owl
Asio otus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Magnolia Warbler
Dendroica magnolia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ovenbird
Seiurus aurocapilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Pine Siskin
Carduelis pinus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Prairie Warbler
Dendroica discolor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostra
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus
Birds. 1 shared habitat

Widespread birds also seen here (39)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of West Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

138CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · 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 138

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
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
Euphyia intermediataSharp-Angled Carpet Moth, The Intermediate
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common 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
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
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 ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
Sutyna privataCheckered Sallow, Private Sallow
Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
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
Ectoedemia rubifoliella
Herpetogramma aquilonalis
Menesta tortriciformella
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

25BirdsRecorded eating Rubus in West Virginia

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes West Virginia, most records first.

Wild TurkeySeeds. 13 diet records
Ruffed GrouseFruit. 9 diet records
American RobinFruit. 5 diet records
Cedar WaxwingFruit. 3 diet records
European Starling3 diet records
Northern Bobwhite3 diet records
Wood DuckFruit. 2 diet records
Eastern BluebirdFruit. 1 diet record
Eastern KingbirdFruit. 1 diet record
Eastern Wood-peweeSeeds. 1 diet record

Show all 25

Evening Grosbeak1 diet record
Hermit ThrushFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
Indigo Bunting1 diet record
Northern CardinalFruit. 1 diet record
Pileated WoodpeckerSeeds. 1 diet record
Pine Grosbeak1 diet record
Red-headed WoodpeckerFruit. 1 diet record
Rose-breasted GrosbeakFruit. 1 diet record
Snow Bunting1 diet record
Song SparrowFruit. 1 diet record
Swainson's ThrushFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
VeeryFruit and seeds. 1 diet record
White-crowned SparrowFruit. 1 diet record
White-eyed Vireo1 diet record
Wood ThrushFruit and seeds. 1 diet record

Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab)

Direct food only. 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

Birds that eat Rubus 25

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Seeds. 13 diet records
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Fruit. 9 diet records
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Fruit. 5 diet records
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Fruit. 3 diet records
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3 diet records
Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus
3 diet records
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Fruit. 2 diet records
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Fruit. 1 diet record
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
Fruit. 1 diet record
Eastern Wood-pewee
Contopus virens
Seeds. 1 diet record
Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus
1 diet record
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
1 diet record
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Fruit. 1 diet record
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Seeds. 1 diet record
Pine Grosbeak
Pinicola enucleator
1 diet record
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Fruit. 1 diet record
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Fruit. 1 diet record
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalis
1 diet record
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Fruit. 1 diet record
Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Fruit. 1 diet record
White-eyed Vireo
Vireo griseus
1 diet record
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Fruit and seeds. 1 diet record

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rosaceae
Hardiness: Zones 3a–8b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Forms thickets
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Summer

What its natural habitat tells you

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Mid spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Forms thickets” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 3a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “4–8 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Minnesota Wildflowers differ)
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
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; Virginia DCR Piedmont, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Virginia DCR Piedmont, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “4–10 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Conservation status

West Virginia rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
WV status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

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How to check your spot

Growing cautions

Suckers and forms colonies. USDA PLANTS lists its growth form as thicket forming. USDA PLANTS

For planning only; these do not change the score or Fit.

Allegheny Blackberry

At a glance

Also found with this plant

Who uses this plant?

Birds that eat Rubus 25

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Growing cautions

Sources

More Rubus