Dewberry

Lore & Background

Dewberries are a group of species in the genus Rubus, section Rubus, closely related to blackberries. In North America, the plants are small, trailing brambles with aggregate fruits that are usually purple to black, reminiscent of raspberries. The stems trail along the ground, putting forth new roots along the length of the stem, and are covered with fine spines or stickers. Around March and April, the plants start to grow white flowers that develop into small, green berries, which turn red and then a deep purple-blue as they ripen. The ripe berries are tender and difficult to pick in quantity without squashing them; they are sweet and often less seedy than blackberries. In winter, the leaves often remain on the stems but may turn dark red. The European dewberry, Rubus caesius, grows more upright like other brambles. Its fruits are a deep, almost black, purple and are coated with a thin layer of waxy droplets, making them appear sky blue (caesius being Latin for pale blue). Its fruits are small and retain a markedly tart taste even when fully ripe. Dewberries are common throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere and are thought of as a beneficial weed. Rubus caesius is frequently restricted to coastal communities, especially sand-dune systems. The leaves can be used to make an herbal tea, and the berries are edible and taste sweet. They can be eaten raw, or used to make cobbler, jam, or pie. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the town of Cameron, North Carolina, was known as the 'dewberry capital of the world' for large-scale cultivation of this berry, which was shipped out for widespread consumption. Local growers made extensive use of the railroads in the area to ship them nationally and internationally.

Reader's Guide

Dewberries hold significance as a widespread, edible wild fruit in the Northern Hemisphere, bridging the gap between wild brambles and cultivated berries. Their trailing growth habit distinguishes them from upright blackberries and raspberries, and their sweet, less seedy fruit makes them desirable for fresh eating and preserves. The European dewberry, Rubus caesius, is notable for its waxy blue coating and tart flavor, while North American species include many named varieties such as the northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris) and Pacific dewberry (Rubus ursinus). Historically, the town of Cameron, North Carolina, became a center for dewberry cultivation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, shipping berries nationally and internationally via railroads. The plants are also ecologically important as a food source for the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, such as peach blossom moths. Dewberries are considered a beneficial weed in many areas, and their leaves can be used to make herbal tea. The berries are used in cobblers, jams, and pies, and the species has contributed to hybrid berries like the boysenberry, which is a cross between a dewberry and a loganberry.

Did You Know?

• Dewberries are closely related to blackberries and are in the genus Rubus.
• The European dewberry, Rubus caesius, gets its name from the Latin for pale blue, referring to the waxy coating on its fruit.
• In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cameron, North Carolina, was known as the 'dewberry capital of the world'.
• The leaves of dewberries are sometimes eaten by the larvae of peach blossom moths.