bramble

Bramble is a common name for thorny woody plants in the genus Rubus, especially those bearing edible fruit such as blackberries and raspberries. The term is widely used in British English to describe wild and cultivated prickly shrubs, and it can also refer to dense thickets formed by these plants. In horticulture and botany, brambles are members of the Rosaceae family.

Brambles are perennial, largely deciduous shrubs with arching or trailing canes that bear stout spines. Leaves are typically compound, with three or five leaflets. Flowers are usually white to pale pink and borne in clusters; the fruit is a drupaceous aggregate known as a blackberry or raspberry, depending on species and cultivar.

Several species in Rubus are grouped into the Rubus fruticosus aggregate, a complex and transitional group with many hybrids. Brambles are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and are common in hedgerows, woodland margins, and disturbed sites. They are widely cultivated for fresh fruit, processing, and ornamental use, and can naturalize or escape cultivation.

In cultivation, brambles require well-drained soil, full sun to light shade, and support for canes. Management typically involves pruning to remove old canes after fruiting and to encourage new growth, as well as control of spread through runners. Brambles can become invasive in some regions if not managed.