Texas Wildbuds
Rubus argutus
(Saw-tooth Blackberry)
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0290
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0284
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0286
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0543
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0292
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0297
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0295
Rubus argutus, Caddo Lake State Park, Harrison Co. 0554
| Scientific Name | Rubus argutus (R. louisianus) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | RUAR2 |
| Common Name | Sawtooth Blackberry, Highbush Blackberry | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 24877 |
| Family | Rosaceae (Rose) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Sandy soils in thickets, river bottoms, prairies, edges of woodlands and disturbed areas. Plant: Woody shrub 2 to 6+ ft. high; the canes (stems) often bend or arch, sometimes reaching the ground; older canes are stout, angular (four-sided in cross-section), furrowed or ridged, hairless, reddish brown, or black and with (usually) curved prickles less than 1/4-inch long along the angles; young canes are light green and have downy hairs. Leaves: Alternate, palmately-compound leaves on pale green petioles that are 2 to 4 inches long, often with 1 or 2 small, curved prickles; non-flowering first-year stems (primocanes) usually with 5 leaflets; the flowering second-year stems (floricanes) with mostly 3 leaflets; leaflets are oblong or oblong-oblanceolate with a rounded base and tip that is acuminate to long-attenuate; terminal leaflets larger than others, 3 to 5 inches long and 1 to 2-1/4 inches across; margins are singly or doubly serrate; sparsely hairy on the upper surface; lower is sparsely hairy or with soft pubescent hairs and usually with curved prickles on midveins. Inflorescence: Second-year canes bear short racemes of 5 to 20 flowers about 2 to 6 inches long; each flower is about 1-inch across, consisting of 5 white obovate to elliptic petals, numerous stamens with white filaments and anthers that are white becoming brownish, a light green compound pistil with multiple styles; below are 5 light green, pointed pubescent-hairy sepals that are much shorter than the petals. Bloom Period: May to July. Fruit: Compound drupes that are black, round to ovoid in shape and up to 3/4-inch long; immature fruit is red. References: iNaturalist, Illinois Wildflowers and SEINet; R. louisianus in "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025
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