Plant Details

Rubus tricolor, Rubus irenaeus

Creeping Bramble, Chinese Bramble, Groundcover raspberry

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Rubus tricolor, Rubus irenaeus.

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Common names

6 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese Bramble
  • Creeping Bramble
  • Groundcover raspberry
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Braambes
  • Chinese braambes
French
  • Ronce rampante
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Rubus tricolor, Rubus irenaeus
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rubus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Creeping Bramble, Chinese Bramble, Groundcover raspberry

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.30 m
Spread: 2.00 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Evergreen

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6-9
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Shade, Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Dye, Ground cover

Description

Fruits can be eaten raw, but also cooked. The best specimens have a nice shape, are of good quality, and have a delicious taste. However, some reports claim that they can be somewhat bland. The fruits are bright red in color and can reach a diameter of up to 17mm.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 372272; name ID 2976315; Rubus L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.