It is a diverse genus, with the estimated number of Rubus species varying from 250 to over 1000, found across all continents except Antarctica.

[7] Most of these plants have woody stems with prickles like roses; spines, bristles, and gland-tipped hairs are also common in the genus.

[16] The genus has a likely North American origin,[16] with fossils known from the Eocene-aged Florissant Formation of Colorado, around 34 million years old.

[16] Fossil seeds from the early Miocene of Rubus have been found in the Czech part of the Zittau Basin.

[18] Many fossil fruits of †Rubus laticostatus, †Rubus microspermus and †Rubus semirotundatus have been extracted from bore hole samples of the Middle Miocene fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin, West Carpathians, Poland.

As Rubus species readily interbreed and are apomicts (able to set seed without fertilisation), the parentage of these plants is often highly complex, but is generally agreed to include cultivars of blackberries (R. ursinus, R. fruticosus) and raspberries (R. idaeus).

[24] The blackberries, as well as various other Rubus species with mounding or rambling growth habits, are often called brambles.