Southern Dewberry

Dewberry is a low-growing, trailing bramble that bears blackberry-like fruit. White, five-petaled flowers appear in early spring and are followed by small fruit which are eaten by birds and small mammals. Humans also enjoy the fruit, but due to its small size, it takes a large quantity of fruit to make a bowl full. Fruit can be eaten fresh, or made into jams or pies if sufficient quantity can be picked.

Dewberries thrive in poor soils but reportedly fruit better when given an application of fertilizer in the fall. The flowers and fruit appear on the vines from the previous year's growth. The preferred exposure is sun or dappled shade. Due to their low trailing habit, wild plants are most visible when in bloom.