May 28, 2026

Growing on a bush with leaves that closely resemble those of maple trees, the Purple Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus) is one of 850 species of flowering plants in Shenandoah National Park. It’s just coming into bloom now, with a flower that is a rich magenta hue.

Their fragrant flowers are a nectar source for hummingbirds, bumblebees and butterflies. Their leaves are often used to line the underground nests of bumblebees. And the berries of Purple Flowering Raspberry are gobbled up by songbirds and small mammals.

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