Red raspberries. Black raspberries. Even purple and golden raspberries. Let’s get real: if you have the space, funds, and time, the only realistic option is to grow ALL of them. Every single cane you can lay your hands on. You can’t possibly have too many berries, especially if they’re that tangy, sweet-tart flavor impossible to describe and even more impossible to forget. Raspberries are magnificent, and that’s just that.

Unfortunately, for some of us, there ARE such things as limits on space, time, and (most of all) money. Limiting to just one or two types is often the only option — but which type of raspberry is best, especially in northern zones where winter damage is so prevalent?

I’m no expert, but over the years I’ve grown all four types of raspberry and I have a definite hierarchy of which I like best. Below you’ll find — in order starting with the most & bestestest favorite and ending with the least favorite — my ranking of which types are best when growing raspberries in northern zones.

Growing Red Raspberries In Northern Zones

I’m no botanist — so don’t sue me for not being able to back this up with research — but in my humble opinion, the red raspberry is by far the best able to contend with northern winters. You can easily find varieties rated for zone 4 from most fruit and garden nurseries, and it doesn’t take much extra homework to turn up a handful of varieties rated to zone 3.

Reds have a lot going for them. There’s like a bazillion different varieties available; whether your fruit garden goal is high yield, a long fruiting season, ease of care, or any number of different things, you can find a red raspberry plant perfectly tailored to your wants.

One note on ease of care — some of the primocane / fall-fruiting red raspberries can be mowed at the end of the season instead of pruning out old versus new wood. However, keep in mind that a fall-fruiting variety is susceptible to the early frosts that are common to zone four and colder gardening climates. One long cold snap and your berries are worthless. Happens to me way too often with mine (which is why I wrote up my article on the pros and cons of growing Caroline red raspberries). so choose carefully and your plants will love you back.

Growing Black Raspberries In Northern Zones

It’s no secret that black raspberries are just about my favorite flavor on earth. Unfortunately it can be a little harder to find a variety that’s winter-hardy past zone 5, but it can be done. (Unofficial plug here — at the time of this article’s publication, Indiana Berry carries a black raspberry variety rated for zone 4. And FYI, I don’t get a financial kickback for referring to them. They’re just one of my favorite companies and I’m happy to send business their way).

So why, if they’re harder to find rated for cold weather, did I put it higher on the list than the golden raspberry? Black Walnuts, that’s why. I admit it, I’m being very narcissistic here; if my area is plagued with these trees, it doesn’t mean all northern fruit gardens have to deal with them, does it? Well, news flash. This is my blog, and I can rank plants based on my specific problems.

Here’s the thing. If you’ve got black walnuts springing up all over your own or the neighbors’ property, you know the devastating impact that those poisonous trees can have on delicate plants. Apple trees? Dead. Vegetable gardens? Streaked through with dead zones over each underground root. The culprit is the juglone toxin that the tree gives off. Thankfully, black raspberries have outstanding resistance to this toxin (even Cornell University thinks so!). For me, this means that sections of my property that were formerly dead zones can be salvaged for prime fruit production. PRICELESS.

Growing Purple Raspberries In Northern Zones

This variety is definitely new on my list, and I’ll be honest — I haven’t been growing them for as long as I’ve grown the other three types. These are sort of a weird blend of red and black squished into one berry. The flavor morphs over the course of the growing season, giving you options for both the tart-sweet black raspberry flavor as well as the sweeter red flavor. Do I like options? You bet I do.

Be aware that they won’t propagate themselves like a red raspberry — don’t expect canes popping up all over the place! These plants operate more like a black raspberry, with new growth from the crown. They’re harder to find than their red, black and golden cousins; this is one plant I’ve never run across in a local greenhouse, not even in greenhouses outside my zone. Expect to have to mail-order unless they experience a surge in popularity… or unless your locale is classier and more refined than mine is in its fruit-garden tastes.

Like with black raspberries, it can be tough finding a purple raspberry that is rated to zone 4 and colder, so keep that in mind as you plot out your… well, plot.

(Interested in other unique an unusual fruit colors? Check out this article on unusual fruit colors you can grow yourself.)

Growing Golden Raspberries

Of the four raspberries, golden is my least favorite. I feel guilty labeling any berry with as vile a term as “least favorite,” but that doesn’t mean I don’t like it; it’s just not as high on my list as the others. This is partially because I’m more of a sour-flavor fanatic; the taste is sweet, as these are essentially the same berry as the red raspberry with a color variation, with a little less “zing” than I’m used to.

Another point to be aware of is that it can be tough to find a variety that’s quite hardy enough to survive in zone four. Additionally, golden raspberries can be slightly more susceptible to diseases, and unfortunately we all know the drill — when one plant gets the sniffles, its first goal is to share them with every plant in the immediate vicinity. When I have enough space (which I rarely do), I try to keep my goldens separated from my other raspberry types to keep a lid on the potential for a disease breakout.

I will say this — these plants are crazy prolific in terms of propagating themselves. I planted one dinky little cane, and all of a sudden they were taking over my herb garden. If you want to expand quickly, these are your boys.

Now, I like considering myself an expert on the fruit gardening subject, but let’s face it; I don’t call this a garden failure blog for nothing. Although the information above represents my firm opinion on the subject of growing raspberries in northern zones, please — don’t take my word for it. There’s no substitute for doing your own research. Cornell University has a fantastic listing of raspberry varieties and is a great place to start looking into your options for which raspberry plants are best-suited to cold zone climates.

And let me suggest, if all else fails… grow them all. What’s bankruptcy in comparison to a few extra jars of jam?

If you’re looking for an easy way to propagate your raspberries, check out this article on layering propagation.

This post was originally published in 2021. The post has since been updated to keep information and links current.