Rubus laciniatus
Cutleaf blackberry
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Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Rubus laciniatus (Cutleaf blackberry) is a non-native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by uniquely distinguished by deeply dissected leaflets.
Cutleaf blackberry is a naturalized shrub found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, and Peninsular Ranges in moist, disturbed areas at elevations of 60 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white flowers with occasionally pink tones, 8 to 15 millimeters long, arranged in clusters of 10 to 25 blooms. Growing with arched or mounded stems up to 3 meters tall, it features numerous stout, wide-based prickles that are strongly curved. Its distinctive leaves are deeply dissected with 3 to 5 leaflets, each coarsely toothed and pointed, covered in fine hairs on the undersides. The fruit develops as a classic blackberry, turning deep black when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 12 species; uniquely distinguished by deeply dissected leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, disturbed areas, garden escape
Elevation: 60-1500 m
California counties: El Dorado, Siskiyou, Butte, Fresno, Shasta, Lake, Mendocino, Tulare, Humboldt, Sonoma, Nevada, Riverside, San Diego, Calaveras, Placer, Amador, Contra Costa, Marin, Mariposa, Trinity, Yuba, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Alameda, Del Norte, Madera
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, eastern North America
Bloom period
Rubus laciniatus blooms May-Jul.
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 laciniatus native to California?
No. Rubus laciniatus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Rubus laciniatus bloom?
Rubus laciniatus blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Rubus laciniatus grow?
Rubus laciniatus occurs in El Dorado, Siskiyou, Butte, Fresno, Shasta, Lake, Mendocino, Tulare and other counties, at elevations of 60-1500 m.
What plant family does Rubus laciniatus belong to?
Rubus laciniatus is in the Rosaceae family, genus Rubus.
What habitat does Rubus laciniatus grow in?
Rubus laciniatus grows in Moist, disturbed areas, garden escape.
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.