Rubus Killarney (Summer Bearing Raspberry)

Cold-hardy and reliable, Rubus idaeus ‘Killarney’ (Red Raspberry) is an early midseason, upright, self-fruitful, thorny shrub with clusters of white, rose-like flowers which give way to medium-sized, sweet, flavorful, red raspberries in early-mid summer. The berries are firm and great for fresh eating, freezing, canning, and pies.

Cold-hardy and reliable, Rubus idaeus 'Killarney' (Red Raspberry) is an early midseason, upright, self-fruitful, thorny shrub with clusters of white, rose-like flowers which give way to medium-sized, sweet, flavorful, red raspberries in early-mid summer. The berries are firm and great for fresh eating, freezing, canning, and pies. Released in Manitoba, this raspberry shrub is perfect for northern gardens. Excellent disease resistance.

  • Grows up to 3-4 ft. tall and wide (90-120 cm).
  • A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is best grown in organically rich, slightly acidic, moist but well-drained soils. Raspberries dislike waterlogged soils and shallow chalky soils. For best results, plant in a sheltered, sunny position. They will tolerate light shade, but the yield is likely to be reduced.
  • Raspberries are usually planted in rows and trained along a post and wire system. But, if you have a smaller garden, you can still grow raspberries, either in containers or trained up a single post
  • Fall is the best time to plant raspberries.
  • Prune in summer immediately after fruiting. Cut back the tips of everbearers that fruited last fall (top 1/3 of the canes) but leave the rest of the cane for summer fruiting. Remove the canes completely after they have fruited over their entire length to encourage the production of new canes. Promptly remove excess new plants and suckers to control spread.
  • In late winter, remove any canes damaged by winter and thin, as needed, the remaining canes.
  • Can get aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, raspberry leaf and bud mite, leafhoppers and raspberry beetle. May be affected by powdery mildews, raspberry cane blight, raspberry rust, raspberry spur blight or raspberry viruses.
  • Propagate from suckers.

Requirements

Hardiness 3
– 7

Plant Type Fruit, Shrubs
Plant Family Rubus – Brambles
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 3'
– 4'
(90cm
– 120cm)
Spread 3'
– 4'
(90cm
– 120cm)
Spacing 30″
– 36″
(75cm
– 90cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy, Fruit & Berries
Attracts Birds, Butterflies