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Royalty Purple Raspberry

Rubus idaeus 'Royalty'

A stunning purple raspberry variety that combines the best traits of red and black raspberries, producing large, sweet-tart berries with a unique wine-like flavor. Developed at Cornell University, this vigorous grower produces heavy yields on strong, self-supporting canes. The deep purple fruit is perfect for fresh eating and makes spectacular jams with incredible color.

Harvest

70-80d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

4–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

6 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Transplant

Harvest

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Royalty Purple Raspberry in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Royalty Purple Raspberry · Zones 4–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Moderate

Spacing3-4 feet

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil with good organic content

pH6.0-7.0

WaterLow — drought tolerant

SeasonSpring

FlavorSweet-tart with complex wine-like notes and rich flavor

ColorDeep purple-red

SizeLarge, similar to red raspberries

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 4	—	June – July	—	August – September
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	August – October
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	July – October
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	July – 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 Royalty raspberries keep 2-3 days at room temperature or up to one week refrigerated at 32-35°F with high humidity. Don't wash until ready to use, as moisture accelerates spoilage. Store in shallow, breathable containers—never pile them deep.

For long-term preservation, freeze unwashed berries in single layers on baking sheets, then transfer to freezer bags. Their firm texture holds up better than most raspberries when frozen. The intense color and wine-like flavor make them exceptional for jam-making—their natural pectin content creates excellent gel formation. Dehydrate at 135°F for fruit leather or dried berries. The complex flavor profile also makes them surprisingly good candidates for raspberry wine or vinegar—the deep color creates stunning finished products that red raspberries can't match.

History & Origin

Royalty Purple Raspberry was developed at Cornell University's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, New York, through the breeding work of Dr. Robert Lamb. Released in 1982, this variety was created by crossing 'Newburgh' red raspberry with 'Cumberland' black raspberry, aiming to combine the best characteristics of both parents.

The breeding program specifically targeted improved hardiness, disease resistance, and unique fruit characteristics that would appeal to both commercial growers and home gardeners. Purple raspberries as a class had existed before, but most suffered from poor vigor or inferior fruit quality. Royalty represented a breakthrough—delivering the self-supporting canes of black raspberries with better flavor and the heavy productivity of red varieties.

The 'wine-like' flavor that distinguishes Royalty comes from its unique anthocyanin profile, inherited from both parent species. This made it popular not just for fresh eating but for value-added products like specialty jams and even home winemaking, carving out a niche market that continues today.

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

Chives

Repels aphids and Japanese beetles while improving soil health

Garlic

Deters aphids, spider mites, and root borers with natural sulfur compounds

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial predatory insects

Comfrey

Deep roots bring nutrients to surface and leaves make excellent mulch

Tansy

Repels ants, mice, and flying insects that damage berry crops

Clover

Fixes nitrogen in soil and provides living mulch to retain moisture

Yarrow

Attracts beneficial insects and improves soil fertility through deep roots

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling squash bugs

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits raspberry root development and growth

Fennel

Produces allelopathic compounds that stunt raspberry growth and reduce fruit production

Potato

Shares verticillium wilt disease and attracts Colorado potato beetles to area

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 resistance to mosaic virus and root rot

Common Pests

Raspberry cane borer, aphids, spider mites, Japanese beetles

Diseases

Cane blight, anthracnose, powdery mildew, gray mold

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Royalty purple raspberry take to produce fruit?▼

Royalty purple raspberries typically produce their first significant harvest in the second year after planting. You may get a few berries the first summer, but the real crop comes when the previous year's canes mature. From bloom to harvest, expect 70-80 days, usually ripening in mid to late July in most growing zones.

Can you grow Royalty purple raspberries in containers?▼

Yes, but choose large containers—at least 20 gallons—as Royalty produces vigorous, tall canes. Use a well-draining potting mix amended with compost, and provide consistent moisture without waterlogging. Container plants need winter protection in zones 6 and colder, and you'll need to provide support even though the variety is self-supporting in the ground.

What's the difference between Royalty and regular red raspberries?▼

Royalty offers unique wine-like flavor with more complex sweet-tart notes compared to standard red varieties. The deep purple color comes from crossing red and black raspberry parents. Royalty canes are more self-supporting, disease-resistant, and cold-hardy than most red varieties, but ripen later in the season and produce different textured fruit.

Do Royalty purple raspberries spread like red raspberries?▼

Yes, Royalty spreads through underground suckers like red raspberries, though typically less aggressively than some red varieties. Install root barriers or regularly remove suckers to contain the patch. The vigorous growth habit means you'll have plenty of new canes each year, but management is essential to prevent overcrowding.

When should I plant Royalty purple raspberry canes?▼

Plant bare-root Royalty canes in early spring, 4-6 weeks before your last frost date when soil is workable but not waterlogged. In zones 7-9, you can also plant in late fall. Container-grown plants can be planted throughout the growing season but establish better with spring planting, giving them a full season to develop strong root systems before winter.

Are Royalty purple raspberries good for beginners?▼

Royalty is moderately beginner-friendly due to excellent disease resistance and self-supporting canes, but requires understanding of proper pruning techniques. The annual removal of spent canes is critical for plant health and productivity. If you're willing to learn basic raspberry pruning and can provide consistent care, Royalty is more forgiving than many raspberry varieties.