Rubus armeniacus
Himalayan blackberry
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry) is a non-native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by size, habitat, and robust thorns.
Himalayan blackberry is a naturalized shrub found in California's Foothill Provinces in disturbed areas and roadsides at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering from March to June, this aggressive plant produces white to pink flowers 10 to 15 millimeters long in clusters. Growing with arched or mounded stems up to 3 meters tall, it features numerous stout prickles and distinctively five-angled stems that can root at their tips. Its compound leaves have 3 to 5 leaflets, with terminal leaflets that are wide-elliptic to obovate and coarsely double-toothed, appearing white and densely hairy underneath. The fruit develops into a characteristic black blackberry, making this plant a common sight in disturbed landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 12 species; distinguished by size, habitat, and robust thorns
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Disturbed areas, roadsides
Elevation: < 1600 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Solano, San Francisco, Amador, Sonoma, Humboldt, Mendocino, Marin, Sacramento, Sutter, Butte, Shasta, Tehama, Plumas, Trinity, Nevada, Yuba, Contra Costa, Sierra, Alameda, Del Norte, Siskiyou, San Mateo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Placer, Napa, Yolo, Lake, Merced, San Joaquin, Riverside, Kern, Tuolumne, Monterey
Outside California: to British Columbia, western North America, eastern North America, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Rubus armeniacus blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Toxicodendron: Rubus has palmate leaves with 3-5 leaflets spreading from one point; poison oak has 3 leaflets arranged along a stem.; vs Ribes: Rubus stems are thorny or bristly canes; currants/gooseberries are unarmed or have sharp spines at nodes only.; vs Rosa: Rubus leaves are palmate (fingers from palm); rose leaves are pinnate (leaflets along a central stem).; vs Acer: Rubus has compound leaves with separate leaflets; maple leaves are single lobed blades.; vs Fragaria: Rubus grows as tall, arching canes; strawberries form low runners with flower stalks rising from base.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rubus armeniacus native to California?
No. Rubus armeniacus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Rubus armeniacus bloom?
Rubus armeniacus blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Rubus armeniacus grow?
Rubus armeniacus occurs in Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, El Dorado, Solano, San Francisco, Amador, Sonoma and other counties, at elevations of < 1600 m.
What plant family does Rubus armeniacus belong to?
Rubus armeniacus is in the Rosaceae family, genus Rubus.
Is Rubus armeniacus invasive in California?
Rubus armeniacus is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.