Devil’s Blackberry: A Rare New England Native Worth Knowing
If you’re passionate about native plants and live in New England, you might be intrigued by devil’s blackberry (Rubus multispinus). This lesser-known member of the blackberry family is a true New England native, but don’t expect to find it at your local garden center anytime soon.
What Makes Devil’s Blackberry Special?
Devil’s blackberry is a perennial shrub that stays refreshingly compact compared to its more aggressive cousins. This low-growing beauty typically reaches only 1.5 feet tall and rarely exceeds 3 feet at maturity. That alone makes it more garden-friendly than many other Rubus species that can take over your landscape faster than you can say bramble patch.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native gem has a fairly limited range, naturally occurring in just four New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Its restricted distribution suggests this might be a plant that’s quite particular about its growing conditions.
Should You Plant Devil’s Blackberry?
Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit complicated. While devil’s blackberry is undoubtedly native and theoretically garden-worthy, there are some important considerations:
- Limited availability: You’re unlikely to find this plant in nurseries
- Uncertain status: With such a restricted range, this species may be naturally rare
- Limited growing information: There’s surprisingly little cultivation data available
The Responsible Approach
If you’re determined to grow devil’s blackberry, proceed with caution and responsibility. Only source plants from reputable native plant nurseries that can verify the plant’s origins. Never harvest from wild populations, as this could harm already limited natural stands.
Given the uncertainty around this species, you might want to consider other native Rubus alternatives that are better understood and more readily available, such as:
- Wild red raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
- Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
- Dewberry (Rubus flagellaris)
Growing Conditions (Best Guess)
While specific growing requirements for devil’s blackberry aren’t well documented, we can make educated guesses based on its New England native range and relation to other Rubus species:
- Likely hardy in USDA zones 4-7
- Probably prefers partial shade to full sun
- May tolerate various soil types, as most Rubus species do
- Likely benefits from consistent moisture
The Bottom Line
Devil’s blackberry represents one of those fascinating native plants that reminds us how much we still don’t know about our local flora. While its compact size and native status are appealing, the lack of cultivation information and potential rarity make it a challenging choice for most gardeners.
If you encounter this plant in the wild, consider yourself lucky to witness a true New England specialty. But for your garden, you’ll probably have better success – and do more good for local ecosystems – by choosing well-documented native alternatives that can provide similar benefits with greater reliability.
Sometimes the most responsible thing a native plant enthusiast can do is admire from a distance and let rare species thrive undisturbed in their natural habitats.
