Rubus idaeus

Rubus idaeus, commonly known as the raspberry, is a fruit-bearing plant belonging to the genus Rubus and the family Rosaceae. Originating in eastern Asia, raspberries are now a significant crop in Europe and North America.1

Physical Characteristics

Raspberries are perennial plants with two-year canes that can be smooth or prickly and often grow over 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall. Their compound leaves have toothed leaflets, and the undersides are typically white to gray and hairy. The flowers are white to pink, with five petals. The fruit, commonly called a "berry," is technically an aggregate of small drupes, each containing a seed. The fruit can be red, purple, or black, though other colors exist.1

Cultivation and Use

While commonly called berries, the fruit is technically an aggregate of drupelets. Raspberries are rich in iron, vitamin C, and antioxidants. They are often eaten fresh, used in jams and jellies, as pastry fillings, or as a flavoring for liqueurs. Commercial red raspberries are typically cultivars or hybrids of Rubus idaeus and R. strigosus.1