When mature/established, the plant is effective in stabilizing creek banks and edges of bioswales. To set large fruit, the plant needs consistent amounts of moisture. Otherwise it is moderately drought tolerant when established. Seed size seems to be related to fruit "cell" size, and the smallest (1 cm) fully formed berries are most highly prized. These are sometimes called "little wild blackberries." A cultivar of this species named the 'Aughinbaugh' blackberry was a parent of the loganberry. "Rubus ursinus" is also a second generation parent of the boysenberry and the marionberry, or 'Marion' blackberry. 'Wild Treasure' has the fruit size and flavor of the wild species, but without prickles, and the berries are machine harvestable. It was released by the USDA-ARS in 2010, and is a hybrid between a selection of "Rubus ursinus" and 'Waldo' (another cultivar that is a second generation descendant of the marionberry that has no prickles).