Photographic List Complete List Annual bastard-cabbage Amur corktree Asiatic colubrina Asiatic sand sedge Australian pine Black locust Black swallow-wort Burma reed Bush honeysuckles (exotic) Canada thistle Carrotwood Chinaberry Chinese lespedeza Chinese wisteria Climbing euonymus Cogon grass Common buckthorn Common mullein Common reed English ivy Eurasian watermilfoil Fig buttercup Fire tree Fiveleaf akebia Fountain grass Garlic mustard Goutweed Giant reed Japanese barberry Japanese hop Japanese honeysuckle Japanese knotweed Japanese spiraea Japanese stiltgrass Japanese wisteria Kudzu Leafy spurge Melaleuca Mile-a-minute Multiflora rose Musk thistle Oriental bittersweet Pale swallow-wort Paper mulberry Perennial pepperweed Porcelainberry Princess tree Purple loosestrife Russian-olive Salt cedar Siberian elm Silk tree Smooth cordgrass Spotted knapweed Strawberry guava Tall fescue Tree-of-heaven Velvet tree West Indian marsh grass White poplar Wineberry Yellow Himalayan raspberry Yellow starthistle Aquatics Eurasian watermilfoil Herbaceous Plants Annual bastard-cabbage Asiatic sand sedge Burma reed Canada thistle Cogon grass Chinese lespedeza Common mullein Common reed Eurasian watermilfoil Fig buttercup Fountain grass Garlic mustard Goutweed Giant reed Japanese knotweed Japanese stiltgrass Leafy spurge Musk thistle Perennial pepperweed Purple loosestrife Smooth cordgrass Spotted knapweed Tall fescue West Indian marsh grass Yellow starthistle Shrubs Asiatic colubrina Bush honeysuckles (exotic) Common buckthorn Fire tree Japanese barberry Japanese spiraea Multiflora rose Russian-olive Silk tree Strawberry guava Wineberry Yellow Himalayan raspberry Trees Amur corktree Australian pine Black locust Carrotwood Chinaberry Common buckthorn Melaleuca Paper mulberry Princess tree Salt cedar Siberian elm Silk tree Strawberry guava Tree-of-heaven Velvet tree White poplar Vines Black swallow-wort Chinese wisteria Climbing euonymus English ivy Fiveleaf akebia Japanese honeysuckle Japanese hop Japanese wisteria Kudzu Mile-a-minute Oriental bittersweet Pale swallow-wort Porcelainberry

Rubus ellipticus Sm.
Rose family (Rosaceae)
Download PDF version formatted for print (135 KB)

NATIVE RANGE
Southern Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Tropical China, and the Philippines) 

DESCRIPTION
Himalayan raspberry is a stout evergreen shrub with prickly stems about 12 feet long. Its thick leaves are about 3-4 inches long and 2-3 inches wide, divided into three roughly equal "finglers" with toothed leaf margins and inch-long leaf stalks that are densely covered with prickles. The flowers of yellow Himalayan raspberry are white and occur in short, terminal panicles. The fruit is yellow, edible and highly sought after. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT
Where it becomes established, yellow Himalayan raspberry forms impenetrable thickets, threatening native lowland wet forests and displacing native Hawaiian plant species, including a native Hawaiian raspberry (Rubus hawaiiensis).

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES
In Hawaii, yellow Himalayan raspberry invades wet forest habitats at elevations between about 2000 and 5000 feet that have been disturbed by feral pigs. 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES
Yellow Himalayan raspberry is usually found in moist to wet forests. This species is well adapted to the full sun of open canopy forests and pastures as well as the deep shade of rain forests. 

BACKGROUND
Yellow Himalayan raspberry was introduced to Hawaii for its edible fruit around 1960. It is widely grown as an ornamental in tropical climates. 

BIOLOGY & SPREAD
Yellow Himalayan raspberry spreads rapidly by root suckers and regenerates from underground shoots after fire or cutting. Its seeds are dispersed by fruit-eating birds and mammals. 

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
If cleared by physical means, the roots of yellow Himalayan raspberry must be grubbed out and burned. Alternatively, cut stumps may be treated with systemic herbicides such as glyphosate that kill the plant from the roots. 

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: ALWAYS READ THE ENTIRE PESTICIDE LABEL CAREFULLY, FOLLOW ALL MIXING AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND WEAR ALL RECOMMENDED PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND CLOTHING. CONTACT YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PESTICIDE USE REQUIREMENTS, RESTRICTIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS. 

NOTICE: MENTION OF PESTICIDE PRODUCTS ON THIS WEB SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENDORSEMENT OF ANY MATERIAL.

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PLANTS
An alternative to the invasive yellow Himalayan raspberry is the native Hawaiian raspberry (Rubus hawaiiensis), which produces an exceptionally large, edible fruit and is free of thorns or prickles. This native raspberry was once common in the moist forests of Hawaii and its fruit was frequently collected by local people. Many other native plants are available for use in ecosystem restoration projects.

OTHER LINKS

• Photos by Forest & Kim Starr (USGS)

AUTHOR
Nancy Benton, The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA

PHOTOGRAPHS
Forest & Kim Starr, US Geological Survey, HI

REFERENCES
Cronk, Q.C.B. and Fuller, J. 1995. Plant Invaders: The Threat to Natural Ecosystems. Chapman & Hall: London. World Wide Fund for Nature. 

Merlin, M.D. 1976. Hawaiian Forest Plants. The Oriental Publishing Company, Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Stone, C.P., C.W. Smith, and J.T. Tunison (eds.). 1992. Alien Plant Invasions in Native Ecosystems of Hawaii. Cooperative National Park Resources Study Unit. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Yellow Himalayan (Rubus ellipticus). http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=14094.

USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.