Creeping Raspberry

Creeping raspberry is the compact, evergreen groundcover with crinkled, dark green leaves and small, white flowers in summer followed by orange-red berries in fall. It grows just three to six inches tall, spreading steadily by runners into a dense, low mat that hugs the ground more tightly than most groundcovers. Native to Taiwan, it is one of the most refined members of the Rubus genus, more groundcover than bramble.

In Western Washington, creeping raspberry performs well in sun to part shade with well-drained soil. It tolerates moderate foot traffic, which makes it useful between stepping stones, along paths, and in rock gardens where a dense, low cover is needed. The spreading rate is moderate, not aggressive like its native relatives. No significant disease or pest concerns are tracked. The berries are edible but small and not particularly flavorful. For a low, evergreen, well-behaved groundcover that fills the space between stepping stones and softens rock garden edges, creeping raspberry offers a neat alternative to thyme or Irish moss.