Most landscapes have difficult sites, such as hot, dry, erodible slopes or ditches where soil moisture fluctuates from very wet to very dry. Not many plants tolerate these conditions, but Creeping Raspberry is one that will. In fact, it not only survives, it thrives under harsh growing conditions.

It grows 3 to 6 inchesmin height and spreads 3 to 6 feet in all directions. As the name implies, Creeping Raspberry creeps along the ground by forming runners – much like strawberries – which root at their nodes and establish new colonies. Although it is aggressive, Creeping Raspberry is not invasive. It doesn't climb trees or smother nearby shrubs, and it can readily be controlled with mechanical edging or hand-clipping.

Creeping Raspberry has coarse-textured leaves with deep veins that make them appear puckered. During spring and summer, the leaves are shiny, dark green above and gray-green below. They turn burgundy in fall and winter. Whit inconspicuous flowers are followed by tiny, raspberry-like fruit in late summer. Although the fruit are tasty and edible, they are tiny, so don't expect an abundant harvest for your breakfast table. Fruiting is not one of the plant's outstanding attributes.

We plant Creeping Raspberry in any full-sun or partial shade site that has well-drained soil. Avoid planting them in wet soils or areas that may get too much irrigation. Too much overhead irrigation can make the plants look ragged.