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We investigated the persistence and influence of Rubus spp. on tree regeneration in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This genus has been linked with delayed recruitment of trees following overstory removal in some regions but not others. Specifically, we examined the role of opening size and advance regeneration on subsequent regeneration dynamics 13 years post-harvest in 44 group-selection openings and at 15 reference sites, which had been treated with single-tree selection. We found that patches of Rubus were still a common feature in large group-selection openings 13 growing seasons post-harvest. Most of the patches observed appeared to have persisted since our initial survey (second growing season post-harvest), with approximately half of the plots containing Rubus in 2005 still containing it in 2016. Rubus cover was significantly associated with increasing opening size (P < 0.001). Successful …