Is There a Raspberry Tree? ID, Pics, Growing Zone, Types of Raspberry Bush

Raspberry Tree or Bush: Raspberry Tree Facts

Just because a plant can grow up to 9 feet tall, can look like a tree, can act like a tree with branches and stuff sprouting from a central line, doesn’t make it a tree.

It’s natural to assume that when Raspberries are spied growing profusely in the same vicinity and holding its head as high as nearby trees, it’s part of the crowd.

But the question of whether Raspberries grow on trees is a tricky one. That’s because they don’t technically grow from trees, but they do occasionally grow on them.

Raspberries actually grow on vines, well canes to be precise as that’s what the visible part of the plant is called that grows above ground. They will develop a thicker, brown bark in the first year and as they grow it helps to stabilize the plant and hold it erect.

As a bush or a shrub, the Raspberry plant is happy growing alone but when next to a tree it will go into climbing mode, the vines curling around any accessible limbs and starting to creep upwards.

So cleverly will the Raspberry vines become entwined around the tree that it will give the impression that it is part of the tree,² that it is actually growing from the tree. It is not.

It is just using it to elevate its status on the forest floor and for a sturdy shoulder to lean on. And it works.

Despite all the evidence to the contrary, they are still called Raspberry Trees.

How To Identify Raspberry Tree That Has Black Berries and a Blackberry Tree

Both Blackberries and Black Raspberries are members of the same genus, Rebus, and are also known as Bramble plants.

Strangely enough, contrary to popular belief and big marketing campaigns, they are actually not true berries.

They’re known as “aggregate fruits.” as they are comprised of drupelets that join together to form one berry.

If you came across a wild Raspberry and a Blackberry bushy growing side by side in a field, would you be able to tell them apart?

Raspberry Tree Leaves vs Blackberry Tree Leaves

The general shape of the leaf is pretty much the same with both types of leaves having three to five lobes, with slightly serrated edges. The underside of the leaves of the Raspberry Tree is slightly paler, but it’s the stems that are the real giveaway compared to the Blackberry Tree.

The stems of Blackberries are green with long, sharp thorns, while the stems of black Raspberries are bluish-white with smaller thorns.

Raspberry Tree Flower

In late spring and early summer, flower clusters bloom among the leaves, heralding the arrival of the fruits.

Five white, egg-shaped petals and five green, hairy, lance-shaped stalks with long, pointed, tapering tips make up the flowers. There can be as many as 10 flowers in a cluster, each 2-3 inches long with a bright yellow stamen in the center.

All of these individual features combine to enable even the casual observer to identify a Raspberry Tree.

Just don’t get pricked by one of the sharp thorns when you reach in to grab one of those sweet berries.

Raspberry Bush (Rubus idaeus): Raspberry Fruit

USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9 hold the optimum environment for these tasty treats and within their borders you can grow different kinds of Raspberries. Don’t be disappointed, however, if, in the first season, all you have is a bunch of green leaves.

Most Raspberry shoots are biennial,³ which means that they grow shoots during the first growing season and then fruit during the second growing season, so a little patience needs to be factored into the project.

The beauty of this species is that it is a fast grower. They spread outwards and upwards quickly and can sneakily take over an entire area if not kept in check by a sharp pair of shears.

While their expansion is plain to see above ground, under the surface the plant is sending out tendrils, called suckers, and these long underground shoots grow roots that turn into new plants.

All this activity occurs right under your feet and your well-manicured lawn, and you won’t even be aware of what the new plant is at first when it pops up because a: you didn’t plant it and b: it’s so far away from the original plant.

In the early spring, new leaves and stems will grow along with fresh flower buds. When these buds open, they will show tiny white or pink flowers, which means that the fruiting process has begun.

(Image: photosforyou¹⁷)

It’s important to know that the time when Raspberries bloom depends on the cultivar. Some types bloom earlier or later than others, producing fruit at different times.

As the first year fades away, the berries will begin to emerge in April depending on the particular cultivar and the warmer climates, but generally, May is the recognized coming-out party in most zones.

It will take about two weeks for them to ripen and they may well need some protection from squirrels and wild rabbits in the form of netting if you don’t fancy standing guard every night.

For the next two weeks, the flowers will remain open on the raspberry bush (raspberry tree) and will receive frequent fly-bys from pollinators in order to produce its juicy fruits.

Raspberry Season and the Raspberry Tree Growing Zone

Raspberries are big business.

Nearly 900 tons went through the production process and went on to the international market in 2020.

In America, California is the leading state in producing fresh Raspberries, but strangely enough, most of the Raspberries consumed in the entire country as a whole are imported from Mexico.

This is the result of the short growing season in the U.S., and the incredibly long one in Mexico.

Even the Raspberries harvested in June or July will only have a short shelf life, all but gone by the end of August or early September if you’re extremely lucky.

Mexico doesn’t have that problem.

Due to the temperate microclimates experienced in 22 out of the 32 states,⁴ there has been an explosion in Raspberry production. This has been driven by demand from its neighboring country in the off-season and the profits to be made to fill that year-round demand.

For decades Mexico has been exporting berries to the United States, especially since a free trade agreement was signed in 1994. Nearly 600,000 tons of berries, including blackberries and strawberries, went to the U.S. market in 2022, bringing in $3 billion of revenue.

With a growing season that is 3 times as long, Mexico is capitalizing on its Raspberry-growing-friendly conditions. But even those states that have a shorter season than other parts of the country are erecting enormous greenhouses.

Raspberries that can be exported to the U.S. in the off-season fetch a premium price as more and more consumers are growing accustomed to having them in the winter, and not just for a few months in the summer.

Raspberry Plants: What Does Raspberry Bush Look Like?

Raspberries are a lot like Blackberries in the way they grow on the vine. The main differences are that when they are fully grown they can be red, black, purple, or yellow.

Another difference is when the Raspberry fruit is picked, the center stays on the plant whereas with a Blackberry the center comes away with the fruit. This makes the fruit hollow and a lot easier to identify.

(Image: Scot Nelson¹⁸)

The leaves of a Raspberry bush have serrated edges that are fairly wide with 3–5 lobes, and the bottoms are generally white with a little bit of fuzz. These are similar characteristics for a Summer Bearing and an Everbearing Bearing Raspberry plant, but can you spot the differences?

To help in the classification trial consider that summer-bearing Raspberries, also known in the trade as primocanes, are the fruits produced on canes that are grown during the current season.

The other variety, the fall-bearing Raspberries, known as floricanes, grow on canes that are one year old.

Summer Bearing

During the summer, these types have only one crop of berries on the canes that live through the winter. Early in the summer, plants start to bear fruits in a season that lasts about 4-5 weeks.

To have fruit for all of the 5 weeks, you will need more than one type of Summer Bearing Raspberry. Depending on the zone and the weather, the plants may start to bear fruit in June or July so two different types will extend the harvesting season.

Everbearing Raspberry

These fall-bearing Raspberries produce two crops within a year.⁵ The largest harvesting season starts in the late summer/early fall after the fruits that have been on the tips of canes growing throughout the summer become ripe.

A second crop is then carried lower on the plant or on those same canes early into the next summer, and mature slowly. To take advantage of being able to have two crops, the planting must be pruned as a summer bearer.

To get the most from your everbearing Raspberries, it is recommended that you prevent the Raspberries from fruiting in early summer.

So how does all this work?

Raspberry Roots and the Raspberry Tree Growth Rate

It’s all down to the roots, and the growth rate.

Raspberries that bear fruit on primocanes do so on canes that started growing in that given year. The harvest begins in the late summer and continues through the first frost of the fall season.

Cultivars require less attention and care compared to floricane varieties. When planted outside, they have fewer trellising needs to enable them to climb unaided and are easier to remove in the fall because they can be cut down with a mower instead of by hand.

The majority of Raspberry Trees live for more than two years and grow new stems from a fixed root system every two years.

A new stem with no branches in its first year is called a “primocane” but in its second year, it will be classed as a floricane because as it grows quickly to its full height of between 5-8 feet and will send out several side shoots that grow smaller leaves.

Breeders are continually trying to improve the production capabilities of Raspberries by creating newer cultivars, to enable them to grow faster, to be able to be harvested earlier in the season, and to improve the quality of the fruits.

Some can even be double-cropped, harvested not only in the summer but again later on in the year.

Types of Raspberries (ID, Pics, Growing Zone)

The type of Raspberry Tree you choose for your landscape will vary on when the season starts in your area. Select either a floricane or a primocane for when you want them to ripen.

How long it takes to grow Raspberry Tree will determine when you plant it. Early spring is often the best time but growers also plant them in autumn, and even between the months of November to March.

As long as the seeds are dormant, the time for planting period in your lawn is very flexible.⁶ It will be up to where you live to determine when to plant Raspberry Tree for the best yield, which can be anywhere from June to September.

Let’s have a look at a few varieties and when they are normally ripe for the picking.

With over 200 different varieties of Raspberries,⁷ there is bound to be a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes.

Purple Raspberries and gold Raspberries are being selected for their coloring as well as their juicy tastes.

(Image: karen_hine¹⁹)

Growers are experimenting with different species by planting the black Raspberry Tree to improve yields alongside a traditional red Raspberry, trellis-supported species to enable it to climb higher.

Where Do Raspberries Grow: What Color Is a Raspberry?

Red Raspberries are one of the most consumed berries in North America, nearly on the same par as Strawberries. The spike in popularity is partly due to the availability in the off-season, either from home-grown suppliers or imported from across the border in Mexico.

Profit is one of the great drivers of innovation and farmers are now incorporating both species of Raspberries, summer-bearing and everbearing, to benefit from greater yields.

Each season a Raspberry Tree can grow hundreds of berries and farmers are slowly increasing production to boost profits without adding extra plants or increasing the workload by planting genetically improved cultivars.

Because Raspberries can all make their own seeds, you only need one bush to get a decent harvest.

To have a few different species growing side by side is no problem and, even though Raspberry bushes tend to grow best in cooler areas, there are now so many different kinds that you can grow them in a wide range of planting zones and planting times.

Raspberries grow best in rich, well-drained soil yet retain moisture, and are slightly acidic.

Always choose a sunny spot in your yard because if your plant grows in even light shading, the crop will be smaller and the plants won’t be as strong or healthy.

The beauty of it is that as a casual grower, the growing zones for Raspberry Tree, where to grow, and the flexibility in the planting times, make it possible for you to pick fresh, tasty berries from the middle of summer to the middle of the fall.

Raspberry Bushes Planting (Raspberry Tree Seeds and Raspberry Seedling)

Raspberries are normally grown in rows that run north to south so that the plants don’t shade each other.

If you’re unsure how far apart to plant Raspberry Trees you should elect a distance of 45–60 cm apart for the plants, and 6 feet apart for the rows.

Growing a Raspberry Tree from a seed or growing a Raspberry Tree from a cutting are generally not the preferred methods of propagation.⁸ The success rate can be unreliable and both methods are time-consuming.

Growing a Raspberry Tree from a seedling, from suckers, or from layering is more common, and surprisingly, the best growing conditions for Raspberry Tree can be in containers, at least to start with.

Container Raspberries

When you don’t have a lot of soil space, like in a small yard or on a patio, containers are a great choice to grow what you want in the space you’ve got.

Even if you do have the outdoor space, you may decide to grow your Raspberry plants in a container for a short period of time, and then bury it in a hole permanently later on. Being easier to move and start, and they are great for beginners who want to get their new green fingers wet without getting them burned.

Raspberry Bush Care

Looking after the health of your Raspberry plants starts with the container itself, so choose the material wisely.

• Terracotta and clay pots look nice, and very decorative-looking, and will add texture to your green zone. But they can be impracticable as they are not easy to move around and in winter, some of them have a tendency to crack under the pressure of a few cold nights.
  Pots of good quality can be expensive, but if you take care of them, they can last for a long time.
• Wood and metal are popular planters, with wood requiring a touch more maintenance and metal being generally a touch more expensive and the possibility of rusting.
• Plastic is a good way to go as the containers are lightweight and a lot easier to move from sun to shade. Whether you’re growing a Raspberry bush or other type of fruiting shrub from a seedling, acclimatization for the first week at least is crucial, and that involves moving, and moving some more.
  They come in many different shapes, colors, and finishes. Some of them are convincingly designed to resemble terracotta or stone, and they cost a lot less.
  Just be sure to get one that has good drainage holes and can be recycled as the plastic carbon footprint is becoming a major concern for the planet.

How To Grow Raspberries: Raspberry Bush Care and When To Transplant Raspberries Into Your Garden

Not all Raspberry Tree types feel at home in a container if it is intended to be their permanent dwelling even if it does have adequate drainage holes.⁹

They simply outgrow even large pots so if it’s to be a permanent planting select a small thornless Raspberry species that will be more than happy being potted.

Planting Tips for Raspberry Tree

Think big. Select a pot that is at least 24 to 36 inches wide and an equal depth and fill with potting mix instead of yard soil.

(Image: Michael Petersen²⁰)

The best mix is one made of wood and compost because it will keep its shape for several years and provide your new plant-to-be enough nutrients. Mixes made of peat, on the other hand, tend to break down within a year.

Watering Needs for Raspberry Tree Plants

After staking the fledgling plant so it has a support structure, water the soil thoroughly until it is seeping out of the drainage holes. Be mindful not to overwater, but do so whenever the topsoil is dry to about an inch in depth.

If experiencing undue periods of drought, the plant may not be as productive later on or as lush.

Fertilize Raspberries

Always use an organic fertilizer. Remember that you’re planting your crop to be harvested and eaten in the not-too-distant future and you want to avoid ingesting any harmful chemicals.

If you’re intending to plant your Raspberries in the spring, apply the fertilizer straight away with a layer of mulch.

Raspberry Pruning (How To Prune Raspberry)

During the season, pruning needs to be done more than once because the red and yellow Raspberries grow new, green canes called primocanes. In the first year, the primocanes don’t produce any fruits.

In the middle of the first year, clean up any sick or broken canes to control size and height, and to prevent any build-up of fungus. Always clean the shears with alcohol between cuts.

Before overwintering the plants,¹⁰ cut the big green canes to about 4 to 5 feet, and the weak ones to about 1 inch.

Putting your potted Raspberries in an indoor setting that isn’t too warm will give them a head start in the spring and prepare them for transplanting so there will be no shock to their system.

When To Transplant

The kind of Raspberries you have can help to figure out the best time to move them outside. Generally, when they are still dormant and not growing any new leaves or flowers is the best time to move as it will reduce any possibility of stressing the plant.

How Far Apart To Plant Raspberry Tree (Raspberry Tree Disease Prevention)

Prepare a few holes that are about six to ten inches wide and the same size as the roots, and at least two feet apart so they have room to grow and can get enough air. This is how to stop Raspberry Tree disease from taking hold.

By this stage of the growing process, you should know how much sunlight does Raspberry Tree need each day and should have chosen a location where 6-8 hours of sun can be absorbed.

It’s true that Raspberries can grow in light shade, but the crop will be smaller and the plants won’t be as strong or healthy, so do not underestimate the importance of location location location.

Make sure that any water-hungry weeds are cleared away so no nutrients will be robbed by them. Always do this at the start as they are hard to get rid of once the Raspberries are growing.

Mix an organic compost with the garden soil and as you plant all the seedlings, use a support pole or a trellis system to hold them erect as they grow, and tamp down the soil around the base.

Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch and add a high-potassium fertilizer, and water thoroughly.

Why and When To Prune Raspberries

Raspberry Trees are prolific spreaders, their suckers racing in all directions in a hurry to get everywhere. If your intention is not to let a Raspberry bush forest dominate your backyard, you should dig up Raspberry suckers or break off Raspberry canes to keep your plant under control.

Most Raspberries should be trimmed as soon as they are planted.

Cut the stems, or “canes,” to a height of 25 cm but don’t cut back Raspberries that bear fruit in the summer.¹¹

If you do, you’ll lose the fruit for that season.

Raspberries are perennial plants that generally bear fruit on canes that are at least two years old. You might get a few berries the first year, but they won’t really start to grow properly until the second year.

Any canes that aren’t growing anything new, are cut down to the ground to encourage growth for the new season.

5 Companion Plants for Growing Raspberry Tree

Some companion plants act as natural pest control for Raspberry Tree as they provide inbuilt repellants that deter some pests or they attract insects or birds that prey on them.

#1 Crimson Clover

These plants grow close to the ground and provide everything that a good companion plant should bring to the landscape. They enrich the soil by boosting nitrogen availability around your Raspberry bushes, which will help them grow to their fullest, healthiest potential.

(Image: Erwin Weingardt²¹)

And an added bonus is that they also attract helpful insects like lacewings and wasps that eat other insects before they can eat your fruits.

#2 Lavender

What makes these lovely flowers pleasant to have in your garden apart from their looks, is the same thing that warns pests to stay away from the scent. Lavender has a strong smell that keeps flies and other pests away by masking the sweet smell of your berries.

Fortunately, helpful insects are not affected and will still pop in to eliminate any pests that have held their noses and slipped through.

#3 Spring Oats

They may not look as showy as other plants are as fragrant, but they are just as useful as a companion to your Raspberry Tree.

Soil erosion can often be a problem and spring oats will not only help to prevent that, but it also prevents weeds from repeatedly popping up and soaking up all the water in the area.

#4 Marigolds

Easy to care for, Marigolds are an excellent addition to a landscape as they brighten up the entire zone.¹² More than that, they are a natural insect repellant while attracting beneficial pollinators at the same time.

Definitely worth implanting.

#5 Allums

Irrespective of whether you opt for garlic, chives, or onions to accompany your Raspberry bushes, you can’t go wrong. No one knows exactly which one but there is a certain smell that bugs just don’t like.

It throws some of the nasty ones off their game and makes them look for food somewhere else.

Planting alliums near your Raspberry canes will keep away aphids, spider mites, fruit borers, Japanese beetles, and slugs, all of which will do significant harm to your prized fruity possessions.

These plants also have anti-fungal qualities that enter into the soil and help to protect their neighbors, such as your Raspberry Trees, from ruinous infectious diseases.

Common Pests of the Raspberry Tree

An often overlooked reason why pests may be attracted to your plants is simply that you have neglected to harvest all of your fruits when they have ripened.

Overripe fruits are a magnet for insects who are looking for a free lunch, and leaving any to decay on or around your Raspberry Tree will endanger the entire crop as they launch an air and land assault that you may not see coming until they have all settled in nicely.

To avoid this scenario, remove all ripened Raspberries even if they are inedible due to damage or any other defect, and do the same for any debris around the base.

(Image: Pavan Prasad²³)

Here are a few to watch out for, some that look harmless, others that just look mean.

Red Berry Tree Identification

According to the Red Berry Tree identification, not all red berries are safe to eat and not all red berries are good to eat. It can be beneficial to know which ones are going to be sweet and tasty, rather than sour and toxic.

Nutritionally, red berries contain a host of healthy antioxidants, and even the sour-tasting ones are delicious in baked goods.

(Image: Teodor Buhl²²)

There are some red berries that can cause a diverse range of bad reactions, so a good red berry identification chart will help you to identify which one you are just about to pop in and chew.

Peruvian Pepper Tree

• Description: A 50-foot evergreen tree that bears little dark red berry-like fruit with pinnate fern-like leaves, and tiny white blooms.
• Edible: The fruits of the Peruvian Pepper Tree are safe to eat for adults but may upset the stomach of younger children.¹⁵

Hawthorn Tree

• Description: Hawthorns are easily recognized by their characteristic short stems, spreading branches, and spirally arranged leaves. The tree’s crimson fruits look good enough to eat.
• Edible: And they can be even though they are very sour. Consuming the seed either intentionally or by mistake, can elicit a toxic reaction so should never be chewed or swallowed.

The American Holly Tree

• Description: Occasionally reaching heights of 100 feet, it has a pyramidal Christmas tree shape with prickly, evergreen glossy leaves and its fruits range in color from orange to deep red.
• Edible: Never eat these berries. The toxic reaction will cause vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration.

English Yew Tree

• Description: An attractive tree with cones and bright red fruit called arils. They are distinctive and characterize this tree because they are open-ended and quite unique.
• Edible: The berries are quite sweet and a delight. The seeds, on the other hand, are deadly.
  Consuming too many by accident will be fatal for an adult. In children or pets, just a few can be too toxic to survive.

If you’re in an unfamiliar area and do not recognize the tree or its red berries, err on the side of caution and do not eat them.

It would be better to not take the risk, and live to pick fruits another day, rather than throw caution to the wind because you want to satisfy your sweet tooth and experience a nasty allergic reaction.

The Raspberry Tree Growing Zone

Whenever planting Raspberry Trees in rows, always be aware that they will need full sun, good drainage, and air movement for faster leaf drying to prevent the onset of any fungal infections.

The soil needs to be well-draining yet retain a certain level of moisture so as not to dry out too quickly, and if needed it’s advisable to transplant your Raspberry seedlings in raised beds or mounds in your garden if there is a chance of root rot.¹⁶

Knowing how to identify and grow raspberry plants (raspberry tree) can help you transform your backyard garden into a deliciously abundant area, and keep your Raspberry bushes healthy and flourishing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Raspberry Tree (Raspberry Bush)