Raspberry - Rubus idaeus

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Description

Tall suckering plant to 1.5 metres. Stems unbranched with weak prickles and a whitish bloom when young. Leaves pinnate, leaflets pinnate 5 to 7 oval, toothed, whitish beneath. Flowers white 9 to 11 mm long nodding in small clusters. Fruit red edible.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Open woodland, commons, embankments, heaths.

When to see it

May to August.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Surprisingly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland as a wild plant. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 235 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Saharima Roenisch
    Leicester Shady Lane Arboretum (including Piggys Hollow)
    13 July 2020
  • Graham Calow
    Stoney Stanton, Footpath near Stoney Cove
    24 August 2020
  • David Nicholls
    Ulverscroft
    14 July 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    30 June 2011
  • Barbara Cooper
    Charnwood Lodge NR
    07 June 2018
  • David Nicholls
    The Brand, Woodhouse
    15 June 2013

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Raspberry
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
117
First record:
11/05/1992 (John Mousley;Steve Grover)
Last record:
12/07/2025 (Catherine Horrell)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Melinda Bell
    Heather, QEDJWood
    30 June 2020
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Shady Lane Arboretum
    04 July 2018
  • Graham Calow
    Wash Pit, Sapcote
    06 May 2006
    flower
  • Graham Calow
    Claybrooke Magna
    30 May 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Wood
    28 March 2017
  • Graham Calow
    Footpath behind Stoney Cove
    03 August 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Wood
    28 March 2017
  • David Nicholls
    The Brand, Woodhouse
    15 June 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Claybrooke Magna
    30 May 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Springwell Lane, near Whetsone
    05 May 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Footpath behind Stoney Cove
    03 August 2016
  • David Nicholls
    Martinshaw Wood
    30 April 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Battram Road, Battram
    12 May 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Footpath behind Stoney Cove
    03 August 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Springwell Lane, near Whetsone
    05 May 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Springwell Lane, near Whetsone
    05 May 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Springwell Lane, near Whetsone
    05 May 2016
Photo of the association

Metallus albipes

The larva of the sawfly Metallus albipes mines the leaves of Raspberry, producing a large, almost full depth blotch with scattered frass. The mine is identical to that of Metallus pumilus, but the larva is different so it can be identified to species if the larva is present.

Photo of the association

Metallus pumilus

The larva of the sawfly Metallus pumilus mines the leaves of various Rubus species including Brambles. The mine begins with a short, quickly widening corridor which opens into a large, very transparent, almost full depth blotch that often overruns the initial corridor. The larva has a large prothoracic plate, two further thoracic spots and one spot on the first abdominal segment (this distinguishes it from M.albipes).  It is necessary to check the larva or rear through in order to identify to species level.

Photo of the association

Cladius brullei

The larva of the sawfly Cladius brullei is a slightly hairy, black headed creature, grey brown and slightly speckled above, off white below. It feeds on the leaves of Rubus species such as Blackberry and Raspberry, but also on Rowan.

Photo of the association

Large Raspberry Aphid

The Large Raspberry Aphid (Amphorophora idaei) feeds on the underside of the leaves of Raspberry bushes.  This species only feeds on Raspberry (never on Blackberry).  The apterae are usually greenish white or pale yellow. The alate Amphorophora idaei is of similar size but has a brown head and thorax, and has the distal half of the siphunculi darkened.

Photo of the association

Agromyza sulfuriceps

The larva of the Agromyzid fly Agromyza sulfuriceps mines the leaves of various species in the Rosaceae family including Roses, Meadowsweet, Strawberry, Silverweed, Cinquefoil, Raspberry and Burnets. The mine starts as a long corridor, its initial part often along the leaf margin or a thick vein. Rather suddenly the corridor widens into a broad blotch. The corridor contains much frass, often in two distinct patches or lines.