File:Rubus phoenicolasius - Wineberry.jpg

Japan, Korea and China DESCRIPTION Wineberry, or wine raspberry, is a typical species in the genus Rubus, which contains blackberry and raspberry. The name Rubus phoenicolasius translates as "blackberry with purple hairs." The mature plant has long stems (canes) that are upright and arching and covered with distinctive glandular red hairs and small spines. The hairs give the canes a reddish color when seen from a distance. Under favorable conditions, canes may grow to a length of 9 feet. Leaves consist of three heart-shaped, serrated leaflets with purplish veins and are silvery white tomentose on the underside. Small greenish flowers with white petals and reddish hairs occur in Spring. The very edible raspberry like fruit is bright red and ripens during June and July. BACKGROUND Wineberry was introduced into the United States in 1890 as breeding stock for new Rubus cultivars. It is used today by berry breeders to add specific genes to berry varieties or species. Wineberry is an example of one man's flower being another man's weed. Given containment, wineberry has desirable and useful qualities, but due to its invasive nature, it is considered a significant pest of agricultural and natural ecosystems. Wineberry has been used as a virus indicator for raspberry yellow spot and wineberry latent virus and numerous plant viruses have been isolated from it.

Source: Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien Plant Working Group.