Royalty Purple Raspberry

Royalty Purple Raspberry is a striking purple raspberry variety known for its large berries, exceptional sweetness, and vigorous growth. This floricane-fruiting variety produces deep purple fruit with rich, complex flavor—often considered the sweetest among purple raspberries. Royalty’s late-season ripening helps it avoid many spring frost issues, making it a dependable choice for northern growers. With impressive yields and beautiful color, Royalty is equally prized for fresh eating, preserves, and desserts.

SHIPPING INFO: This product begins shipping in March. We will try to ship within the ideal planting window for your growing zone.

Why Grow Royalty Purple Raspberry?

• Produces large, deep purple berries with exceptional sweetness
• Late-season ripening helps reduce risk of spring frost damage
• Highly productive with vigorous growth
• Excellent for jams, desserts, smoothies, and fresh eating
• Self-fertile and well suited for home gardens

Growing Information

🌱 Plant Type: Raspberry (floricane / summer-bearing) – plant plug
🌱 Hardiness Zones: 4–8
🌱 When to Plant: Early spring, as soon as soil can be worked
🌱 When to Harvest: Mid to late summer

Cultivation Tips

• Soil requirements: Plant in well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Avoid low spots where water may pool.
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade. Full sun encourages maximum fruit production and sweetness.
• Watering: Water consistently, especially during establishment and dry periods. Soil should remain moist but not soggy. Mulching helps retain moisture and keep roots cool.
• Harvesting: Berries are ready when fully purple and release easily from the plant. Fruit can also be harvested slightly immature as firm red berries depending on intended use.
• Pruning: Fruit is produced on second-year canes. After harvest, remove spent floricanes at ground level. Thin first-year canes in late winter to improve airflow and encourage healthy growth.
• Spacing: Space plants approximately 18–30 inches apart for proper airflow and cane development.
• Additional information: Royalty has thorny, long canes, so gloves are recommended during pruning and harvest.
• Pollination: Self-fertile—no additional plants required.

Click here for a video on How to Care for Raspberries: Plants and Plugs

Click here for our Raspberry Growing Guide

History

Royalty Purple Raspberry was released in 1982 by the Geneva Experiment Station in Geneva, New York. It quickly became the most widely grown purple raspberry variety due to its large fruit size, productivity, and exceptional sweetness. Known for its vigorous growth and disease resistance—including resistance to raspberry aphid—Royalty remains a trusted choice for gardeners seeking both beauty and performance.

Non-GMO Commitment: At The Farm on Central, all our plants are guaranteed non-GMO and not genetically modified in any way, upholding natural breeding methods and promoting sustainable gardening and farming practices.

Growing method: Conventionally grown, due to tissue culture propagation which ensures disease-free planting stock.