Bloomipedia
Purple-flowered raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Photo: Tom Scavo via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Purple-flowered raspberry

Rubus odoratus

Purple-flowered raspberry (Rubus odoratus) is a low shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Purple-flowered raspberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

24states where USDA records it
4Bloomipedia state lists include it
18,394U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia

Quick look

Rubus odoratus, the purple-flowered raspberry, flowering raspberry, or Virginia raspberry, is a species of Rubus native to eastern North America. It is sometimes referred to as thimbleberry, a name more commonly associated with the North American R. parviflorus.

  • 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 native in the lower 48 states and records it in 24 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. NatureServe
  • In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • In Vermont, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 5,159 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #43 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 3,208 research-grade sightings of it in Vermont, ranking #11 among the 159 flowers on our Vermont list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,157 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #98 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,421 records)
Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New YorkNativeJune–August5,159
VermontNativeJune–August3,208
PennsylvaniaNativeJune–August2,157
West VirginiaNativeJune–July527

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in West Virginia.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (S1), IN (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Edible but somewhat dry, crumbly and unappetizing.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets. 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 purple-flowered raspberry in 24 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Schuyler, St. Lawrence, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester, Wyoming.

Vermont counties with USDA records: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, Windsor.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Potter, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Venango, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming, York.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Purple-flowered raspberry a medium shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.5 to 6.5 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.5 to 6.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
90
Annual precipitation range
35 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
16 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Red · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for RUOD. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 360 counties across 20 states; the most are in Pennsylvania (65), New York (49), Virginia (40).

Other Rubus on Bloomipedia (14): Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry, Salmonberry, Southern dewberry, Armenian blackberry, 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 New York flowers

Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in NY: May–July
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: May–June
Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Black cherry

Prunus serotina

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: May

Sources