Other Names:  Arctic Bramble, Nagoon, Nagoonberry

Description:

This native of arctic and alpine regions grows best in organic and acidic soils; purple-pink flowers in early summer give way to deep red to purple berries that are highly prized for jams; extremely hardy, and great for moist woodland borders

Edible Qualities

Arctic Raspberry is a small shrub that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces small clusters of dark red round berries with purple overtones which are usually ready for picking in mid summer. The berries have a sweet taste and a firm texture.

The berries are most often used in the following ways:

• Cooking
• Preserves

Features & Attributes

Arctic Raspberry features dainty violet flowers at the ends of the branches in early summer. It has attractive green deciduous foliage which emerges coppery-bronze in spring. The textured oval compound leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color.

This is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a spreading, ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep. Each spring, cut back all dead and two-year old canes to the ground, leaving only last year's growth standing. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Arctic Raspberry is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Arctic Raspberry will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is particular about its soil conditions, with a strong preference for rich, acidic soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.