Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Yankee
Blackberry
(Pennsylvania Blackberry)
Rubus pensilvanicus [C-value 3]
Rose family (Rosaceae)
Blooms mid-May -
June
The native Yankee Blackberry is common in our area. It prefers light shade to full sun and slightly moist rich fertile soil. Habitats include moist to slightly dry edges along woodlands, open woodlands, savannas, and trail sides. This woody shrub forms canes that are initially erect, but often bend downward to re-root in the ground. The canes grow and form leaves during the 1st year, develop fruits in the 2nd year and then die. The canes are about 3-6' tall and become brown or reddish brown with stout prickles. The alternate compound leaves have 3 or 5 leaflets on long petioles. Each leaflet is up to 4" long and 3" across, oval shaped and doubly toothed. The 2nd-year canes develop racemes with about 12 white flowers. Each flower is about ¾-1" across with 5 white petals. The berries (drupes) develop later in the summer. They are about ¾" long and 1/3" across, initially green, but eventually turning red and finally black.
Yankee Blackberry at Richard Young Forest Preserve May 28, 2013
Yankee Blackberry at Richard Young Forest Preserve May 28, 2013
Yankee Blackberry at Richard Young Forest Preserve May 28, 2013
Yankee Blackberry at Lyon Forest Preserve woodland trail May 26, 2015
Click here for more information.
Copyright © 2011-2017 by Kendall County Forest Preserve District. All Rights Reserved.