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Growing Tips and Considerations
Brandywine Purple Raspberry (Bundle of 3)
$74.99
Reliable shipping
Flexible returns
Ripening
Will it finish before your first hard freeze?
Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)At a glance: Brandywine Purple Raspberry is a raspberry plant rated hardy to zone 4 in our ratings (winters to -30°F), and self-fertile, so one plant can crop.
| Hardy to | Zone 4 to 8. A bare number means the whole of zone 4, colder half included (winters to -30°F). Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator. |
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| Pollination | Self-Fertile. Bloom group 5 of 7 (mid-late), late spring to early summer here. Raspberries set fruit on their own, so one variety is enough. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. Raspberry Pollination Chart. |
| Good for | Jams and jellies (8/10), sauce and butter (8/10), pies and baking (7/10), wine (7/10), canning and freezing (7/10), juice and sweet cider (7/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists. |
| Deer | A deer favorite. Fence it or cage it. |
| What you get | Bare root. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out. |
Overview
Brandywine is a true purple raspberry—a rare hybrid between red and black raspberries—and it really stands out for its flavor and color. While it might not be on every gardener’s radar, those who grow it tend to become loyal fans, especially if they’re into making jam, jelly, or homemade wine.
The berries are large, soft, and packed with tart, full flavor. When baked into pies or cakes, that deep purple color fades to a bright red, making it just as beautiful in the kitchen as it is on the vine. Brandywine also has a reputation among home brewers and fermenters for its excellent performance in fruit wines and liqueurs.
Growing Tips and Considerations
One of the nice things about Brandywine is that it doesn’t take over your garden the way some raspberries can. It tends to stay put once planted, which makes maintenance a bit easier. The canes do have thorns, but they’re more widely spaced and larger than those on most red raspberries, so pruning and picking aren’t too much of a hassle.
It’s a tough and adaptable plant, generally insect resistant and reliable in a range of climates. It grows best in Zones 4–8, though if you’re in Zone 3, you might see a little winter dieback—something to keep in mind if you’re gardening in colder parts of the region.
Plant Details
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Berry Texture: Soft and juicy
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Flavor: Tart, complex, and full
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Best Uses: Fresh eating, jam, baking, wine
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Hardiness: Zones 4–8 (possibly Zone 3 with protection)
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Growth Habit: Upright, with moderate spread
Questions we get about Brandywine Purple Raspberry
Does Brandywine Purple Raspberry need a pollenizer?
No. Brandywine Purple Raspberry is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Raspberries set fruit on their own, so one variety is enough.
How cold hardy is Brandywine Purple Raspberry?
We rate Brandywine Purple Raspberry hardy to zone 4, which means winters down to about -30°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.
What is Brandywine Purple Raspberry good for?
Our top use scores for Brandywine Purple Raspberry are jams and jellies (8/10), sauce and butter (8/10), pies and baking (7/10), wine (7/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.
Will deer eat Brandywine Purple Raspberry?
Yes, deer love it. Protect Brandywine Purple Raspberry with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.
What arrives, and when does Brandywine Purple Raspberry ship?
A dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.