# wineberry (*Rubus phoenicolasius*) Wineberries are sweet, juicy berries that grow on tall, bushy plants. They have bright red color and are covered in soft hairs, making them fun to pick and eat! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 37 - **Habitat:** Forests ![wineberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Japanse_wijnbes_rijpe_vruchten.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Japanse_wijnbes_rijpe_vruchten.jpg) ## Appearance The wineberry has distinctive reddish-purple stems covered in fine, bristly hairs and small thorns. Its leaves are light green with silvery-white undersides, while its delicate pinkish-white flowers give way to bright, ruby-red, raspberry-like fruits encased in fuzzy sepals. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Rubus ## Interesting facts - Each wineberry fruit is covered by a fuzzy, sticky calyx that makes it unique. - Its name comes from the rich, wine-red color of its ripe, juicy berries! - This plant is native to East Asia but traveled across oceans to grow in new lands! - Wineberries are an 'invasive species' in some places, meaning they grow very fast and wide! ## Special abilities - **Thorny Defense:** Wineberry has sharp bristles and small thorns that deter animals from eating its stems, helping it survive. - **Rapid Spreader:** Wineberry can grow new canes from its roots or tips, allowing it to quickly colonize open areas and expand. - **Fuzzy Fruit Casing:** Wineberry has fuzzy sepals that cover and protect its developing fruit from insects until it is ripe. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-300 cm - **Spread:** 150-250 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Birds enjoy the sweet, ripe berries. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Mammals feast on the abundant fruit. - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit the flowers to gather nectar. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [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. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash berries before eating them to make sure they are clean. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify wineberry? 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 wineberry? 150-300 cm ### How wide does wineberry spread? 150-250 cm ### How big are the flowers on wineberry? 0.5-1 cm ### When does wineberry bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is wineberry edible? Yes ### Is wineberry toxic? None ### What is wineberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Burke Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burke-lake-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Dead Run Stream Valley Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dead-run-stream-valley-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-and-raritan-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Downtown Ossining Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-ossining-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Elk Neck State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/elk-neck-state-park) — Maryland, US · State Park [View all places to see wineberry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wineberry) ## 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: [Wineberry: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wineberry)