# Cutleaf Blackberry (*Rubus laciniatus*) The Cutleaf Blackberry is a fun plant that grows tasty blackberries! Its leaves are shaped like little fingers, making it easy to spot in gardens and wild areas. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Cutleaf Blackberry Bush, Lacinated Blackberry ![Cutleaf Blackberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rubus_laciniatus_07.jpg&width=800) Photo: Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubus_laciniatus_07.jpg) ## Appearance The Cutleaf Blackberry has distinctive deeply cut, fern-like green leaves along thorny, arching stems. Its small white to pale pink flowers develop into shiny black, juicy berries. Its unique foliage helps distinguish it from other blackberries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Rubus ## Interesting facts - It often acts like a climbing vine, scrambling over other plants for vital sunshine! - Its super-serrated leaves are why its scientific name, laciniatus, means 'slashed'! - These sweet and tart berries are perfect for making delicious pies, jams, and even wine! - Though tasty, its dense, thorny thickets provide amazing hiding spots for small animals! ## Special abilities - **Thorn Armor:** Cutleaf Blackberry has sharp thorns that protect its tasty berries and stems from hungry animals. - **Leaf Labyrinth:** Its deeply cut, fern-like leaves maximize sunlight capture, helping it grow strong and fast. - **Runner Roots:** This plant can spread quickly underground with special roots, making new plants pop up everywhere! ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 100-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its leaves and young stems. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit the flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins eat the berries, helping to spread its seeds. - **Shelter:** [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) — Dense thickets provide safe cover for rabbits. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful of thorns when picking blackberries, and always wash the berries before eating them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cutleaf Blackberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Cutleaf Blackberry? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Cutleaf Blackberry spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Cutleaf Blackberry? 1-2 cm ### When does Cutleaf Blackberry bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Cutleaf Blackberry edible? Yes ### Is Cutleaf Blackberry toxic? None ### What is Cutleaf Blackberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-springs-rhododendron-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Portland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/portland-aquarium) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/malakoff-diggins-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Seaquest State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaquest-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park - [Spectacle Island](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spectacle-island) — Massachusetts, US · Natural Landmark [View all places to see Cutleaf Blackberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cutleaf-blackberry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cutleaf Blackberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cutleaf-blackberry)