In British English, a "bramble" is any rough (usually wild) tangled prickly shrub —specifically the blackberry bush (Rubus fruticosus)—or any hybrid of similar appearance, with thorny stems. Bramble or brambleberry may also refer to the blackberry fruit or products of its fruit (e.g., bramble jelly). The shrub grows abundantly in all parts of the British Isles and harvesting the fruits in late summer and autumn is often considered a favourite pastime. It can also become a nuisance in gardens, sending down its strong suckering roots amongst hedges and shrubs. Many consider it a weed due its tendency to grow in neglected areas and its sharp, tough thorns which can be hazardous to children and pets.
Elsewhere, such as in the United States, the term "bramble" also refers to other members of the genus Rubus, which may or may not have prickly stems—notably the raspberry (Rubus idaeus) or its hybrids.
