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Rubus fruticosus
| Common name: |
Blackberry |
Family: |
Rosaceae |
| Author: |
L. |
Botanical references: |
17 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
None known |
| Range: |
Europe, including Britain, to the Mediterraneanand Macaronesia. |
| Habitat: |
A very common and adaptable plant, found in hedgerows, woodland, meadows, waste ground etc[17, 244]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
5 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 3 |
| Other Possible Synonyms: | From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below. |
| R. affinis[G]
R. allegheniensis[B,C,CAL,E,G,H,HORTIPLEX,L,P]
R. fruticosus agg.[H]
R. fruticosus sensu lato[H]
R. nigrobaccus[G]
R. plicatus[G,H]
|
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Allegheny Blackberry [P,B], Blackberry [H], Blackberry,European [E], Bly [H], Bogurtlen [E], Bramble [H], Bramble, Blackberry [MS], Bramble-Kite [H], Brambleberry [H], Brameberry [H], Brummel [H], Bumble-Kite [H], Common Blackberry [L], European Blackberry [E], Gewone Braam [D], Rovo [E], Scaldhead [H], Shrubby Blackberry [P], Zarza [E], Zarzamora [E], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
fruticosus = shrubby;
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA
Plants Database |
|
Order: Rosales. Rose family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Europe; India; Italy; Sicily; Spain; Turkey; Us(Sc)
|
| Noxious, Invasive and Injurious Weeds | From USDA
PLANTS database, Weeds Australia
, DEFRA Injurious Weeds | | Listed as noxious/invasive for: Whole USA, Florida, North Carolina, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmaina, Queensland, USA Noxious. |
Physical Characteristics
A decidious shrub growing to 3m by 3m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from March to November, in flower from May to September, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects and Apomictic (reproduce by seeds formed without sexual fusion).
The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
We rate it 5/5 for edibility and
3/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist soil and can tolerate drought.
The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Hedgerow, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade.
Cultivar 'Thornless': Hedgerow, Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade.
Edible Uses
Fruit; Leaves; Root; Tea.
Fruit - raw or cooked[5, 7, 9, 12, 183]. The best forms have delicious
fruits and, with a range of types, it is possible to obtain ripe fruits from
late July to November[K]. The fruit is also made into syrups, jams and other
preserves[238]. Some people find that if they eat the fruit before it is very
ripe and quite soft then it can give them stomach upsets[K].
Root - cooked. The root should be neither to young nor too old and requires
a lot of boiling[7].
A tea is made from the dried leaves[21] - the young leaves are best[61]. The
leaves are often used in herbal tea blends[238].
Young shoots - raw. They are harvested as they emerge through the ground in
the spring, peeled and then eaten in salads[244].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Astringent; Depurative; Diuretic; Tonic; Vulnerary.
The root-bark and the leaves are strongly astringent, depurative,
diuretic, tonic and vulnerary[4, 7, 9, 165, 254]. They make an excellent
remedy for dysentery, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, cystitis etc, the root is the
more astringent[4, 238]. Externally, they are used as a gargle to treat sore
throats, mouth ulcers and gum inflammations[238, 254].
A decoction of the leaves is useful as a gargle in treating thrush and also
makes a good general mouthwash[7]. We have a more details factsheet on the history and medicinal use of this plant. Email webmaster@pfaf.org for details.
Other Uses
Dye; Fibre; Pioneer.
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[168].
A fibre is obtained from the stem and used to make twine[66].
Plants are spread by seed deposited in the droppings of birds and mammals.
They often spring up in burnt-over, logged or abandoned land and make an
excellent pioneer species, creating the right conditions for woodland trees
to move in. The trees will often grow in the middle of a clump of
blackberries, the prickly stems protecting them from rabbits[K].
Cultivation details
Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil[1, 11, 200]. Succeeds in
acid and calcareous soils[186]. Tolerates poor soils[202]. Established plants
are drought resistant[132]. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade[1, 11, 200], though
it fruits less well in the shade[202]. Plants will also fruit when grown in
fairly deep shade or against a north facing wall, though the fruit will ripen
later[219]. Plants tolerate quite severe exposure[186].
Hardy to at least -18°c[202].
R. fruticosus is an aggregate species made up of several hundred slightly
differing species. The reason for this is that most seed is produced by a
non-sexual method (Apomixis) and is therefore genetically identical to the
parent plant. On occasions when sexual production of seed takes place the
offspring will all be slightly different from the parent plant and will then
usually reproduce as a new species by means of apomixy. Modern treatment of
this aggregate usually does not use the name R. fruticosus because of the
confusion over which species it should apply to, the type species of the
aggregate should be called R. ulmifolius[150].
The following members of the aggregate have been highly recommended for
their fruit[150]. R. badius. R. cyclophorus. R. gratus. R. nemoralis. R.
oxyanchus. R. pyramidalis. R. separinus. R. winteri.
The following members are said to be nearly as good. R. balfourianus. R.
broensis. R. carpinifolius. R. foliosus. R. fuscoviridis. R. infestus. R.
insericatus newbouldianus. R. koehleri. R. largificus. R. londinensis. R.
ludensis. R. macrophyllus. R. obscurus. R. pseudo-bifrons. R. rhombifolius.
R. riddelsdellii. R. scaber. R. thyrsiflorus. R. vallisparsus. R. vestitus.
Plants form dense thickets and this makes excellent cover for birds[186].
They regenerate freely after being cut back[186]. This species is also a good
plant for bees and butterflies[24].
This species has biennial stems, it produces a number of new stems each year
from the perennial rootstock, these stems fruit in their second year and then
die[200].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].
Propagation
Seed - requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a
cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and is
best sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out the seedlings when they
are large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame. Plant them out into
their permanent positions in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200].
Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn.
Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[200].
Cultivars
- 'Waldo'
- This thornless cultivar has weak to moderate cane growth[253].
The fruit is large with a good flavour[253].
- 'Sylvan'
- A moderately vigorous cultivar with thorny canes that are fairly easy to train[253]. The canes need to be allowed to grow at least 3.6 metres long[253].
One of the earliest fruiting blackberries, ripening from July. It produces heavy crops of large, dark-purple fruits with a good flavour[253].
- 'Loch Ness'
- A thornless cultivar with stout moderately vigorous canes[253]. Easy to train, plants can be grown closer than many cultivars, about 2.4 metres apart[253].
The large fruits have a fair flavour, they are produced in mid to late season[253].
- 'Fantasia'
- A very vigorous form with large but widely spaced thorns. It produces a heavy crop from August to the end of September[253]. The canes need to be allowed to grow 4.5 metres long for training[253].
The large firm fruits have a good flavour[253].
- 'Black Satin'
- The canes are sturdy, thornless and easy to train[253].
The fruits are large and glossy with a fair flavour[253].
- 'Bedford Giant'
- An early fruiting cultivar with long, thorny canes[253].
The large soft fruits have a good flavour and are produced in early to mid season - from late July in southern Britain[253].
- 'Ashton Cross'
- A vigorous and heavy cropping cultivar with thin, thorny canes[253].
The small to medium-size fruits have the true wild blackberry flavour and are produced in mid to late season[253].
Suppliers
Plants For A Future is working with the following groups to try and make these plants easily available. Parts of the proceeds will be donated to so please mention us when ordering.
- Cool Temperate Nurseries
-
10 Ivy Grove
Nottingham
NG7 7LZ
Email: philcorbett53@hotmail.com
Phone 0115 847 8302
Fax 0115 847 8302
Distribution: UK
How to order: Direct from Cool Temperate by email/phone
Notes: Many Trees supplied on their own rootstock
Last Updated: April 03
Item:
Rubus fruticosus
(Blackberry/Bramble)
Varities: Oregon Thornless, Thornfree, Waldo
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
PFAF Web Pages
This plant is mentioned in the following web pages
Web References
- Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [PHARM] Phytochemical Data
(common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for Rubus allegheniensis (a possible synonym).
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [C] Taxon data.
from the CalFlora database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for Rubus fruticosus sensu lato (a possible synonym).
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
References for Rubus plicatus (a possible synonym).
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[5] Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974 ISBN 0-00-219060-5
Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.
[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
[12] Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2
A handy pocket guide.
[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[24] Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Fairly good with lots of ideas about creating wildlife areas in the garden.
[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[66] Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985 ISBN 0-946284-51-2
Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences.
[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.
[150] Watson. W. C. R. Handbook of the Rubi of Great Britain and Ireland.
There are hundreds of slightly differing species of the common blackberry growing in Britain. This is a book for the dedicated.
[165] Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
An excellent small herbal.
[168] Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[186] Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979
An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[202] Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.
[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.
[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[244] Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.
[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
Readers Comments
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Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
Species Database.
Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963 This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Rubus+fruticosus
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