dewberry, any of several species of trailing blackberries of the genus Rubus in the rose family (Rosaceae). Dewberries are found throughout North America and northern Europe. They bear edible fruits that can be eaten raw or baked into cobblers or pies or made into preserves. They are occasionally cultivated but can spread rapidly and are considered to be weeds in many areas.
Dewberry plants are low-growing perennials and are often heavily armed with prickles. The leaves are palmately compound, usually with three to five toothed leaflets, and are arranged alternately along the stem. Arching stems that touch the ground often sprout roots at the tip, allowing the plant to spread vegetatively. Unlike most other brambles, the plants are frequently dioecious, meaning individuals are either male or female. The flowers are usually white with five petals and feature numerous stamens or pistils, depending on the sex. The delicate fruit is not a true berry but rather an aggregate of druplets and ripens to purple or black.
In the eastern and southern United States, several native species, especially the northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris), the bristly dewberry (R. hispidus), and the southern dewberry (R. trivialis), produce excellent fruits. The European dewberry (R. caesius) has blue-tinged fruits that are generally less palatable.
Description
Dewberries are common throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere and are thought of as a beneficial weed. The leaves can be used to make a herbal tea, and the berries are edible and taste sweet. They can be eaten raw, or used to make cobbler, jam, or pie. Alternatively, they are sometimes referred to as ground berries.
Around March and April, the plants start to grow white flowers that develop into small green berries. The tiny green berries grow red and then a deep purple-blue as they ripen. When the berries are ripe, they are tender and difficult to pick in any quantity without squashing them. The plants do not have upright canes like some other Rubus species, but have stems that trail along the ground, putting forth new roots along the length of the stem. The stems are covered with fine spines or stickers. The berries are sweet and, for many, less seedy than blackberries.
In the winter the leaves often remain on the stems, but may turn dark red. The leaves are sometimes eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including peach blossom moths.
The European dewberry, Rubus caesius, grows more upright like other brambles, but is frequently restricted to coastal communities, especially sand dune systems. Its fruits are a deep, almost black, purple and are coated with a thin layer or ‘dew’ of waxy droplets. Thus, they appear sky-blue (caesius is Latin for pale blue). It is less sought after, because its fruits are small and retain a markedly tart taste even when fully ripe.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town of Cameron, North Carolina, was known as the “dewberry capital of the world” for large scale cultivation of this berry which was shipped out for widespread consumption. Local growers made extensive use of the railroads, in the area, to ship them nationally and internationally.
What are Dewberries?
To answer the question, “What are dewberries?” it’s helpful to look at the difference between dewberry and blackberry. While they are both trailing berry producing plants whose propensity for growth nears that of a weed, growing dewberry plants have a more shrub-like habit as opposed to the upright 3 to 6 foot (1-2 m.) vines of the blackberry. The berries of dewberry plants are purplish red, similar to raspberries, and the seeds are much larger and tougher than those of the blackberry. The trailing habit of growing dewberry plants attains a height of only about 2 feet (61 cm.) or so and has slender thorns upon red-haired stems. While I harvest blackberries in the Pacific Northwest late in the summer, dewberries are ripe early in the spring, around late April to the first part of May. Grown in the wild, dewberries tend to be slightly more acidic than blackberries and can be turned into jam or “deep pies” or even harvested for homeopathic remedies utilizing the leaves and roots of the plants.
Dewberry Planting
When dewberry planting, you will want to keep in mind that these plants have large lateral growing root systems that spread and interconnect, creating a perennial thicket. So when you decide you want to add dewberry plants, consider the amount of space you will need and the plants potential invasiveness. Growing dewberry plants also propagate from both seed drop and rhizomes — just saying. Dewberry plants can be obtained as seedlings or cuttings from the local nursery or from a wild patch of dewberries. Prepare the soil in the designated area, which should get several hours of direct sun each day. Dig a hole that is large enough for the root ball of the dewberry planting, at least a foot (31 cm.) deep. Put the dewberry planting in the hole, cover with dirt, and pat gently around plant base. If you are planting more than one dewberry plant, space the plants at least 4 feet (1 m.) apart. Water around the planting until the soil is moist and add a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture. Set up a trellis or train the dewberry planting to grow on a fence or the like, tying the branches with a piece of string or twist tie.
Care of Dewberries
Very little is required to take care of dewberries. They are a hardy perennial that needs very little attention. You may want to fertilize growing dewberries once they have been established and have grown several inches (8 cm.), although these hardy plants do not require amending the soil. Keep in mind that it takes four to five years for growing dewberry plants to mature enough to fruit.
