New England Blackberry: A Rare Native Gem for Northeastern Gardens
If you’re on the hunt for truly local native plants for your New England garden, you might have stumbled across the name Rubus insons, commonly known as New England blackberry. This little-known native shrub represents one of the more elusive members of the blackberry family, and there’s a good reason you haven’t seen it at your local garden center.
What Makes New England Blackberry Special
New England blackberry is a perennial shrub that stays refreshingly compact compared to its more aggressive cousins. Growing as a low shrub that typically remains under 1.5 feet tall and never exceeds 3 feet at maturity, this plant won’t take over your garden like some other Rubus species might. It’s also known by the botanical synonyms Rubus honorus and Rubus janssonii, though you’re most likely to encounter it under its current accepted name.
Where Does It Call Home?
This native beauty has a fairly limited range, naturally occurring in just five northeastern states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. Its distribution pattern suggests it’s adapted to the specific growing conditions found in this corner of New England.
The Challenge: Limited Availability and Information
Here’s where things get a bit tricky for the eager native plant gardener. New England blackberry appears to be quite rare in cultivation, and reliable information about its specific growing requirements, wildlife benefits, and garden performance is surprisingly scarce. This scarcity could indicate that it’s either:
- A naturally rare species that requires very specific growing conditions
- A plant that hasn’t yet caught the attention of native plant nurseries and researchers
- Difficult to propagate or maintain in garden settings
Should You Try to Grow It?
The honest answer is: proceed with caution and realistic expectations. While supporting native plant diversity is always admirable, the lack of available information about New England blackberry’s cultivation requirements makes it a challenging choice for most gardeners.
If you’re determined to try growing this species, here are some important considerations:
- Source plants only from reputable native plant nurseries that can verify the plant’s origin
- Never collect from wild populations, as this could harm already limited natural stands
- Be prepared for some trial and error, as specific care instructions aren’t well documented
- Consider it an experimental addition rather than a cornerstone of your native garden
Alternative Native Blackberries
If you’re looking for native Rubus species that are better understood and more readily available, consider these alternatives that also provide wildlife benefits:
- Common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) – more widely available and well-documented
- Red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) – native variety offers excellent wildlife value
- Dewberry (Rubus flagellaris) – low-growing like R. insons but better studied
The Bottom Line
New England blackberry represents the fascinating diversity of our native flora, but it also highlights how much we still have to learn about some of our regional plants. While it might make an interesting addition for the adventurous native plant collector, most gardeners will find better success with more widely cultivated native alternatives.
If you do encounter this species in the wild during your nature walks through New England, consider yourself lucky to witness a piece of our region’s unique botanical heritage. And who knows? Maybe your interest will contribute to increased research and cultivation of this intriguing native shrub.
