Rubus leucodermis
Whitebark raspberry, Whitebark Raspberry
(c) Alex Abair, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Rubus leucodermis (Whitebark raspberry) is a native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by strongly waxy young stems and small flowers.
Whitebark raspberry is a native shrub found in California's Coastal Fog Provinces (except the Great Valley) in open, rocky, and moist areas at elevations of 40 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white flowers 3 to 5 millimeters long in flat-topped clusters with 3 to 10 blooms. Growing 1 to 2 meters tall with an arched or mounded form, it has many stout prickles and strongly glaucous stems that persist for two years and can root at their tips. Its compound leaves have 3 to 5 leaflets, with terminal leaflets that are ovate to lanceolate, shallowly 3-lobed, and densely white-woolly on the underside. The fruit develops as a red-purple to nearly black raspberry-type cluster, adding visual interest to this distinctive California native shrub.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 12 species; distinguished by strongly waxy young stems and small flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally open, rocky, especially moist areas
Elevation: 40-2400 m
California counties: Humboldt, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Shasta, Mendocino, Trinity, Tulare, Plumas, Lake, Nevada, Glenn, Fresno, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, San Diego, Del Norte, Mariposa, El Dorado, Lassen, Monterey, Tuolumne, Butte, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Yuba, Tehama, Kern, Ventura, Alameda, San Benito, Sierra
Outside California: to southern Alaska, Montana, Utah, Arizona
Bloom period
Rubus leucodermis blooms Apr-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 leucodermis native to California?
Yes. Rubus leucodermis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rubus leucodermis bloom?
Rubus leucodermis blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Rubus leucodermis grow?
Rubus leucodermis occurs in Humboldt, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Shasta, Mendocino, Trinity, Tulare, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 40-2400 m.
What plant family does Rubus leucodermis belong to?
Rubus leucodermis is in the Rosaceae family, genus Rubus.
What habitat does Rubus leucodermis grow in?
Rubus leucodermis grows in Generally open, rocky, especially moist areas.
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.