Northwest Blooms · Groundcovers
Rubus calycinoides
Creeping Raspberry
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Height
- 6 to 12 inches
- Width
- 3 to 5 feet
- Flower color
- Small flowers that can range from pink to white
- Foliage color
- Dark green, glossy leaves
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Partial shade
- Water
- Prefers moist, well-drained soil
- Maintenance
- Low
- Growing zone
- USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8
- Wildlife
- Attracts pollinators with its flowers
About this plant
Rubus calycinoides produces small, five-petaled white flowers in late spring to early summer, attracting bees and other pollinators before developing ornamental orange to red berries that mature to nearly black. Rounded, leathery leaves are deep green with a glossy, quilted surface that turns rich shades of bronze and burgundy during cooler weather, creating year-round texture and color. Trailing stems root as they spread, forming a dense evergreen carpet that effectively covers the ground while suppressing weeds and stabilizing slopes.
Native to Taiwan, this species has long been valued for its vigorous, mat-forming habit and attractive foliage. It is well suited to banks, woodland gardens, rock gardens, retaining walls, and beneath trees, where its evergreen leaves, ornamental fruit, and spreading growth provide lasting seasonal interest.
Works well in
Woodland Gardens · Slopes & Banks · Pollinator Gardens · Under Trees
Companion plants
Acorus · Skimmias · Heucheras · Blechnums · Carexes · Hellebores
Design tip
Allow this evergreen groundcover to spread naturally across shaded slopes or beneath trees where it can soften the landscape year-round. Layer evergreen shrubs, bold foliage, and contrasting woodland textures to create a stable planting with depth, seasonal interest, and natural character.
