It occurs in hedges, shrubs, wood and heathy areas, and was first described and named in 1892 by the Derbyshire botanist William Richardson Linton.

[1][2] Linton placed an illustration of the plant in gold leaf on the cover of the 1903 version of The Flora of Derbyshire, of which he was the sole author.

[3][4] Rubus durescens has deep pink flowers and, according to Linton, "occurs in plenty over an area of some five miles by four to the north and east of Shirley".

[6] The 2015 version of The Flora of Derbyshire noted that the plant's range had remained unchanged, listing locations at Mugginton Sand Quarry, Nether Heage, Lower Hartshay and Swanwick.

[8] As a result, Rubus durescens is now included on the 2015 Derbyshire Vascular Plant Red Data List in the category "Nationally Rare".