Formosan Carpet Raspberry, also known as Rubus pentalobus, is a tough evergreen groundcover with a trailing growth habit. It quickly forms a dense mat of glossy, dark green leaves, creating a lush ‘carpet’ effect. In spring and summer, delicate white flowers appear, followed by small, edible orange-to-red fruits that add a pop of color to the foliage. Formosan Carpet is an excellent option for difficult, dry locations and slopes.

I wanted a durable ground cover to replace the ivy that kept crawling up the garage wall and leaving little aerial rootlets stuck to the siding. This definitely fits the bill though it’s a bit more vigorous than we need! The planting spot is only about 3 x 3, and this thing stretches well beyond that in 1 season. It’s easy to trim, though, and won’t crawl up the wall, so I’m calling it a success for now.

Update 2023

I propagated a few cuttings over the winter and have planted them along a parking space where, sadly, several creeping rosemary bit the dust after an unusually cold winter and spring.