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Anne Golden Raspberry

Rubus idaeus 'Anne'

A stunning everbearing yellow raspberry that produces sweet, honey-flavored berries from summer through fall. This primocane variety offers the unique appeal of golden-yellow fruit that's less attractive to birds while delivering exceptional sweetness and a delicate, almost tropical flavor. Anne's thornless canes and compact growth habit make it ideal for small gardens and containers.

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

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Zones

4–8

USDA hardiness

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Height

6 feet

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Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Transplant

Harvest

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Anne Golden Raspberry in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Anne Golden Raspberry · Zones 4–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy to moderate

Spacing2-3 feet apart

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil with good organic content

pH6.0-6.8

WaterLow — drought tolerant

SeasonSpring

FlavorVery sweet with honey notes, less tart than red varieties

ColorGolden yellow to pale orange

SizeMedium to large, similar to red raspberries

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 4	—	June – July	—	June – September
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	June – October
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	June – October
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	June – October
Zone 8	—	April – June	—	June – November

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet, 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Division, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Botanically the fruits are not berries (though they are usually called berries)– they are instead made of many small drupes. The fruits hold together in a hollow cone. Cultivars exist in various colors and tend to be more productive than the straight species.

Color: Gold/Yellow, Orange, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, White. Type: Aggregate, Drupe. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Garden value: Edible, Showy

Harvest time: Summer

Bloom time: Spring, Summer

Edibility: Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and delicious when eaten out of hand. The fruit is also used in pies, preserves, and in wines. An herb tea is made from the dried leaves and some say that a type of tea made from raspberry and blackberry leaves is an excellent coffee substitute.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Anne Golden Raspberries keep best stored unwashed in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Place them in a single layer on paper towels inside a ventilated container—avoid airtight storage which traps moisture and causes mold. Don't wash until ready to use, as moisture accelerates spoilage.

For freezing, spread unwashed berries on parchment-lined baking sheets, freeze until solid, then transfer to freezer bags. They'll maintain quality for 10-12 months. Anne's lower water content compared to red varieties makes it excellent for dehydrating—use a food dehydrator at 135°F for 12-18 hours until leathery but still slightly pliable.

The honey-sweet flavor makes Anne exceptional for jam-making, though you may want to add a splash of lemon juice to balance the sweetness and improve gel formation. The delicate flavor also shines in fruit leather and makes beautiful golden-colored preserves that don't require artificial coloring.

History & Origin

Anne Golden Raspberry was developed by the University of Saskatchewan's fruit breeding program under Dr. Bob Bors in the early 2000s, released commercially around 2005. This cultivar emerged from the university's ambitious project to create cold-hardy, primocane-fruiting raspberries suitable for Prairie conditions, crossing traditional red varieties with yellow-fruited genetics.

The breeding program specifically aimed to develop varieties that could withstand Saskatchewan's harsh winters while producing high-quality fruit on first-year canes, eliminating the need for complex pruning systems. Anne was named following the university's tradition of giving their raspberry releases human names—other varieties from this program include 'Kimberly' and 'Brittany.'

What makes Anne historically significant is its combination of true everbearing characteristics with thornless canes, a trait that was difficult to achieve in yellow raspberries. The variety represents a breakthrough in northern fruit breeding, proving that gardeners in zones 3-4 could successfully grow premium raspberries with minimal winter protection. Its success helped establish the University of Saskatchewan as a leading raspberry breeding institution in North America.

Advantages

+Disease resistance: Deer
+Attracts: Attracts Pollinators, Edible fruit, Wildlife Cover/Habitat, Wildlife Food Source
+Wildlife value: Attracts pollinators, bees, and butterflies for its nectar. Fruit is eaten by birds and small mammals and plants provide cover.
+Edible: Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and delicious when eaten out of hand. The fruit is also used in pies, preserves, and in wines. An herb tea is made from the dried leaves and some say that a type of tea made from raspberry and blackberry leaves is an excellent coffee substitute.

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Garlic

Repels aphids, spider mites, and other pests that commonly attack raspberries

Chives

Deters aphids and Japanese beetles while improving soil health

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids, attract beneficial predatory insects

Comfrey

Deep roots bring up nutrients, leaves make excellent mulch and fertilizer

Tansy

Repels ants, mice, and flying insects that damage raspberry plants

Nasturtiums

Trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract beneficial insects

Yarrow

Attracts predatory insects and improves soil health through deep roots

Strawberries

Share similar growing requirements and help suppress weeds

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to raspberries and inhibits growth

Tomatoes

Share similar diseases like verticillium wilt and attract same pests

Potatoes

Both susceptible to similar fungal diseases and soil-borne pathogens

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants including raspberries through allelopathy

Nutrition Facts

Protein

1.01g(2%)

Carbs

12.9g(5%)

Fat

0.188g(0%)

Vitamin C

23mg(26%)

Iron

0.45mg(3%)

Calcium

16.4mg(1%)

Potassium

156mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346410)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good general disease resistance

Common Pests

Raspberry fruitworm, aphids, spider mites (less bird damage than red varieties)

Diseases

Cane blight, powdery mildew, root rot in wet conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Anne golden raspberry take to produce fruit?▼

Anne golden raspberry produces fruit in its first year when planted as bare root canes in early spring. You'll typically see the first berries 3-4 months after planting, with main harvest beginning in July. As a primocane variety, it fruits on current-year growth, so you don't have to wait until the second year like traditional raspberries.

Can you grow Anne golden raspberry in containers?▼

Yes, Anne is excellent for container growing due to its compact 4-5 foot height and thornless canes. Use a container at least 20 gallons with drainage holes, and choose a high-quality potting mix enriched with compost. Container plants need more frequent watering and feeding, but the ability to move them for optimal sun exposure makes this variety very manageable in pots.

What does Anne golden raspberry taste like compared to red raspberries?▼

Anne golden raspberry is significantly sweeter than red varieties with distinct honey undertones and almost no tartness. The flavor has subtle tropical notes that make it exceptional for fresh eating and desserts. Unlike red raspberries which have bright acidity, Anne provides pure sweetness that children especially love, though some adults prefer the complexity that tartness provides.

When should I plant Anne golden raspberry for best results?▼

Plant bare root Anne raspberry canes in early spring, 2-4 weeks before your last expected frost. Container plants can be planted spring through early fall, but spring planting gives the best establishment before winter. In zones 3-5, avoid fall planting of bare root stock as plants need time to establish strong root systems before harsh winter conditions.

Is Anne golden raspberry good for beginners?▼

Anne is excellent for beginning gardeners because of its thornless canes, good disease resistance, and forgiving growth habits. The primocane fruiting means less complex pruning compared to traditional raspberries. However, beginners should pay attention to consistent watering needs and proper mulching, as the variety is sensitive to both drought stress and waterlogged conditions.

Do Anne golden raspberries need full sun or can they take shade?▼

Anne golden raspberry tolerates partial shade better than most raspberry varieties, producing well with 6-7 hours of direct sunlight. Full sun produces the highest yields, but morning sun with afternoon shade actually helps in hot climates by preventing berry sunscald. Avoid locations with less than 6 hours of sun as fruit production and sweetness will decline significantly.