Hirsute raspberry is a low, softly hairy bramble from eastern Asia with surprisingly large white flowers, about 1.5 in (4 cm) across. It is native to China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, and has been reported in only a few places in the US, mostly in North Carolina.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A deciduous small shrub, usually under 2 ft (60 cm) tall in Japan and Korea. Stems are covered in soft hairs with scattered prickles.
- Leaves
- Compound leaves with 3–5 hairy, toothed leaflets.
- Flowers
- Single white, five-petaled flowers about 1.5 in (4 cm) wide at the ends of the shoots.
- Fruit
- Red, edible raspberry-like fruit made of many small beads, about 3/8 in (1 cm) across, ripening in late spring to summer.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- hillsides and fields
- woodland edges
- Range
- Native to China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan. In the US it has been reported in only a few places, mostly in North Carolina, so it is not a common wild plant here.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Besides the widespread typical form, a variety called var. brevipedicellus, with shorter flower stalks, is known from China.
More species to explore
Record what you meet and build your own collection
Your photos are kept with their date and place, and you can fill regional albums one species at a time.