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Rubus armeniacus
Also called Himalayan Blackberry, Himalaya Blackberry, Himalaya Giant Blackberry, Himalaya Berry, Armenian Blackberry, Armenian Bramble, Himalayan Giant
A vigorous, thorny, scrambling bramble grown for its large, sweet blackberries, but it spreads aggressively and is a noxious weed in many regions. Best grown in full sun with ample space and regular control of new canes.
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 (P.J. Müll.) 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.
It is known for its extreme vigour and tendency to spread rapidly over disturbed areas. It is considered an invasive species and a noxious weed in many regions, but is or was also widely cultivated for its edible fruit; this is large and sweet when ripe, and is one of the most popular blackberries. Its history of discovery and introduction into cultivation are poorly documented; its first definite cultivation was in Germany by 1889, but probably earlier, in 1835, under the name "Rubus fruticosus fr. maximo Booth".
The fleshy growing cane tips contain the antifeedant compounds, 2-heptanol and methyl salicylate at higher concentrations than mature leaves. At the concentration found in the growing cane tips, 2-heptanol is a banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) antifeedant. The lack of phytophagous insects observed on the growing cane tips is likely due to the presence of methyl salicylate. This compound is a known aphid repellant and has been shown to attract predators in response to insect herbivory.
Garden dewberry · Allegheny blackberry · Arctic blackberry · Rubus biflorus · Dewberry · Cloudberry · White Stemmed Bramble · Korean Bramble · Rubus coriaceus · Korean Raspberry · Holy Bramble · Delicious raspberry
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Rubus armeniacus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
