Are black raspberries and wild black raspberries the same? Yes… and no.
They are the same species (Rubus occidentalis), but the difference comes from how they grow, where they grow, and whether you’re dealing with a cultivated variety or the original wild type.
Same Species, Different Forms
Botanically speaking:
- Black raspberry = Rubus occidentalis.
- Wild black raspberry = Rubus occidentalis (growing in native, uncultivated conditions).
There is no separate species. The “wild” version is simply the non-bred, naturally occurring form. Usually smaller berries as cultivated would have picked the biggest berries.
Cultivated Black Raspberries Are Improved Selections
Cultivated varieties — like Jewel, Bristol, Allen, and Mac Black — are:
- Selected for bigger berries
- More predictable growth
- Slightly better disease resistance
- More manageable canes
These traits make them easier to grow in a traditional home garden. Wild black raspberries haven’t been bred or selected. They grow from seed on their own. That doesn’t mean that they can’t be cultivated as a plant, just that their genetics are ‘wild’.
Wild Black Raspberries Have Stronger Survival Instincts
Wild black raspberries tend to be:
- More thorny
- More aggressive spreaders (just have to prune them right to adjust for spreading and yield – learn how to prune raspberries).
- Better at handling poor soil
- More prone to showing disease symptoms (because they haven’t been selectively bred against them)
Their berries may be smaller, but often sweeter and more intense. I personally prefer wild black raspberries because they are more tolerant to the day-to-day changes in weather and require little to no maintenance.
Growth Habit Differences
Wild black raspberries usually grow:
- Taller, with longer arching canes
- With more irregular branching
- With more chaotic tip-rooting in every direction
Cultivated types are:
- Better behaved
- More upright or semi-upright
- Easier to keep in rows or trellised
Flavor Differences
Both have that classic deep, winey, black-raspberry flavor. However:
- Wild berries = often smaller, more seeds, but intensely flavorful
- Cultivated berries = larger, juicier, slightly milder flavor
Garden Care Differences
You care for them almost the same, but wild black raspberries:
- Need more pruning to stay manageable (if you want to manage them. I’m in the camp of let them be free so I can have more berries… however, some still think they need to managed because they can be considered an invasive species – I don’t agree with this).
- Need more distance from red raspberries to prevent disease spread. Want to grow red raspberries? How to Grow Red Raspberries (Summer-Bearing and Fall-Bearing)
- Don’t always respond well to high-nitrogen fertilizers.
- Want drier, poorer soils than cultivated ones prefer.
Disease Resistance
Neither wild nor cultivated black raspberries are as disease-resistant as red raspberries. Wild black raspberries can carry:
- Anthracnose
- Cane blight
- Wild bramble viruses
This is why most growers remove wild black raspberry stands if they grow near cultivated brambles.
How to Grow Wild Black Raspberries
Since wild black raspberries are a more tolerant, tougher bred of plant, they require less maintenance. But there are still things you can do so you can optimize their berry production on your property. Here’s my full guide to how to grow, cultivate and prune wild black raspberry plants.
How to Grow Black Raspberries
Now that we know black raspberry plants form the nursery require a little more work than their wild counterparts, it’s crucial to take care of them, prune, mulch as you would any other plant. Here’s my detailed guide on how to grow and prune and maintain black raspberry plants.
More Raspberry Articles
Want to learn more about raspberries? Here’s all our related content:
- How to Grow Red Raspberries (Summer Bearing & Fall Bearing)
- How to Grow Black Raspberries (Complete Care & Pruning Guide)
- Wild Black Raspberry Plant: How to Grow, Cultivate, and Prune Them Successfully
- Pruning Raspberries: Step-by-Step for Each Variety
- Are Raspberries Invasive? The Answer Might Surprise You
- Raspberries or Strawberries – Which Is the Better Fruit to Grow?
- Raspberry Leaf Tea Benefits: A Complete Herbal Guide
In Summary on Wild Black vs Black Raspberries
Wild black raspberries and cultivated black raspberries are the same species — but not the same experience.
Wild black raspberries are simply the original, unselected form of black raspberries. Cultivated black raspberries are improved varieties bred for bigger berries, better yields, and more manageable growth.
If you’re growing berries at home, you can explore all of our hands-on advice in our Berry Growing Guides, based on what actually works here on our homestead.
We are growing our website with more articles all the time, and we invite you to grow with us. If you have any questions about raspberries or would like to share some of your knowledge with us please leave a comment below. Happy Gardening!
