Flower profile

Rocky Mountain raspberry

Rubus deliciosus

Rocky Mountain raspberry (Rubus deliciosus) is a low shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native to Colorado

Rocky Mountain raspberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Colorado it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

4states where USDA records it

2,718CO sightings*

2,736U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado

Quick look

Rubus deliciosus is a North American species of flowering plant in the rose family. Common names include the delicious raspberry, boulder raspberry, Rocky Mountain raspberry or snowy bramble.
From Wikipedia's article Rubus deliciosus, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub / a vine with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 4 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado. ^NatureServe
In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,718 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #53 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Colorado, most flowering sightings come in May–June.

Flowering records by month in Colorado (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (277 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: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Colorado: No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: OK (S1), WY (S1). (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 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 Rocky Mountain raspberry in 4 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Baca, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Custer, Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Mesa, Park, Pueblo, Saguache, Teller.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Oreobatus deliciosus.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 23 counties across 4 states; the most are in Colorado (20), New Mexico (1), Oklahoma (1).

Other Rubus on Bloomipedia (14): Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry, Salmonberry, Southern dewberry, Purple-flowered raspberry, Armenian blackberry, Swamp dewberry, 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 Colorado flowers

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: April–June

Shrubby cinquefoil

Dasiphora fruticosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August

Ross' avens

Geum rossii

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile RUDE.
iNaturalist, Rubus deliciosus: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Rubus deliciosus (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Rubus deliciosus (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Jared Lincenberg via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.