John M. Randall, TNC

Wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius

Origin: Japan, Korea and China

Background
Introduced into the United States in 1890 as breeding stock for new Rubus (raspberry genus) cultivars and still used today by berry breeders. It is prized for its delicious raspberry-like berries that are produced in great abundance in summer.

Britt Slattery, USFWS

Distribution and Ecological Threat
Wineberry is found from New England and eastern Canada to North Carolina and west to Michigan and Tennessee. It occurs along forest, field, stream and wetland edges and in open woods, preferring moist habitats. Wineberry poses a threat to native flora because of its vigorous growth, which allows it to crowd out native plants and establish extensive patches.

 

Jil Swearingen, NPS

Description and Biology

• Plant: typical blackberry appearance, except for the conspicuous and distinctive reddish, glandular hairs that cover all parts of the plant.
• Leaves: alternate along the stem, are divided into three heart-shaped leaflets with purple veins and toothed margins.
• Flowers, fruits and seeds: small green flowers with white petals and small reddish hairs occur in the spring and are followed by showy bright red fruits in early summer. The fruits are enclosed in a husk until ripe when the sepals spread exposing the orange to red raspberry type fruit.
• Spreads: by seeds transported by birds, mammals, and people, and by vegetative means. New plants can grow from arching canes that touch the ground, and from root buds.

Prevention and Control
Do not plant wineberry. Wineberry can be controlled through mechanical means or by treating the canes with a systemic herbicide like glyphosate or triclopyr.

Native Alternatives

Red or black chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia or melanocarpa) Britt Slattery, USFWS	common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) Britt Slattery, USFWS
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) Chris Miller, NRCS	spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Chris Miller, NRCS
flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus) R. Harrison Wiegand

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Publication by USFWS BayScapes Conservation Landscaping Program
http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/ruph.htm
Last updated: 7 October 2004