Flower profile

Armenian blackberry

Rubus armeniacus

Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) is a low shrub in the Rosaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Not native to California

Armenian blackberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

23states where USDA records it

10,082CA sightings*

14,546U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California

Quick look

Rubus armeniacus, the giant blackberry, Armenian blackberry, or sometimes, misleadingly, "Himalayan blackberry", is a species of Rubus in the blackberry group Rubus subgenus Rubus series Discolores Focke. It is native to Armenia and northwestern Iran, and widely invasive elsewhere. Both its scientific name and origin have been the subject of much confusion.
From Wikipedia's article Rubus armeniacus, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 23 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to California. ^NatureServe
In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 10,082 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #93 among the 178 flowers on our California list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In California, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in California (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,123 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
California: Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in California. ^{CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Rubus pedatus (“Creeping Rubus”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records armenian blackberry in 23 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington; District of Columbia.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Rubus discolor.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 146 counties across 17 states; the most are in California (37), Oregon (23), Virginia (22).

Other Rubus on Bloomipedia (14): Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry, Salmonberry, Southern dewberry, Purple-flowered raspberry, Swamp dewberry, Rocky Mountain raspberry, Five-leaf dwarf bramble.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Chokecherry, White meadowsweet, Ocean spray.

More California flowers

Toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: June–August

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in CA: April–July

Trailing blackberry

Rubus ursinus

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RUAR9.
iNaturalist, Rubus armeniacus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Rubus armeniacus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Rubus armeniacus (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Chuck Wilson via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.