Bramble

Bramble facts

Scientific name: Rubus fruticosus

Family: Rosaceae

Origin: Native

Type: Shrub

Brambles and our canals

Brambles belong to the large and diverse rose family and actually consist of hundreds of species – among them are raspberries and dewberries. However, when we think of brambles, we usually think of the blackberry bush, Rubus fruticosus.

Brambles are a vital food source and shelter for wildlife. The flowers provide all-important nectar for honey bees and bumblebees, as well as other pollinators. Caterpillars and grazing animals munch on the leaves. Mammals (including us) and birds eat the delicious berries.

What do brambles look like?

These thorny shrubs can grow up to three metres high with long, arching stems. The leaves are serrated, dark green on top and pale underneath. In the late spring, you’ll see clusters of pink or white flowers and unripe green and red blackberries in the summer. By the autumn, the black juicy fruits will be ready to pick.

Where to find brambles

Brambles grow almost anywhere, but are particularly common along our canal verges, in hedgerows and scrubland.

When to see brambles

Brambles flower from May to September, with the fruits appearing throughout the late summer and autumn.        

Other plant species to look out for