# European dewberry (*Rubus caesius*) The European dewberry is a sweet, juicy berry that grows on thorny bushes. It's a tasty treat for animals and people alike, and it often grows in sunny fields and hedgerows. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![European dewberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rubus_caesius_fruit_-_Keila.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubus_caesius_fruit_-_Keila.jpg) ## Appearance The European dewberry is a low-growing, trailing plant with slender, often arching stems covered in small prickles. It produces small, white flowers with slightly crumpled petals and distinctive dark purple-black fruits often covered in a pale, waxy 'dew' or bloom, setting it apart from true blackberries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Rubus ## Interesting facts - Ancient cultures sometimes used dewberry leaves and roots in traditional herbal remedies! - Dewberry fruits are packed with vitamins and antioxidants, making them a super snack for wildlife! - The 'dew' in dewberry refers to the frosty, blue-grey coating on its ripe, delicious fruits! - Unlike upright blackberries, dewberries are ground-huggers, with vines that creep along the soil! ## Special abilities - **Ground Hugger:** European dewberry has long, trailing stems that sprawl across the ground, helping it spread widely and cover large areas. - **Dewy Protection:** Its fruits are coated in a waxy, bluish bloom that protects them from drying out and gives the berry its unique 'dewy' appearance. - **Thorny Shield:** The plant's stems are equipped with small, sharp prickles that act as a defense mechanism against hungry herbivores. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-50 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Eaten by:** [Common blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — enjoys the ripe, sweet berries - **Eaten by:** [Roe deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — browses on its leaves and young shoots - **Shelter:** Red wood ant (*Formica rufa*) — finds cover under its dense foliage ## 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. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash dewberries before eating them to keep your tummy safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European dewberry? 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 European dewberry? 10-50 cm ### How wide does European dewberry spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on European dewberry? 1.5-2.5 cm ### When does European dewberry bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is European dewberry edible? Yes ### Is European dewberry toxic? None ### What is European dewberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Sunfish Creek State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunfish-creek-state-forest) — Ohio, US · Forest ## 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: [European dewberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-dewberry)