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Key characteristics

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

Groundcovers

Rubus calycinoides

Creeping Raspberry

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.

Light

Partial shade

Water

Prefers moist, well-drained soil

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

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.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)