Practical
Plants

Rubus chamaemorus

Cloudberry

a perennial member of the Rubus genus in the family Rosaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Rubus
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees, Flies
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Bees, Flies

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[5][8]. Sour but delicious, the fruit can be eaten out of hand or stewed, used in preserves, pies etc[5]. Rich in vitamin C[8]. The sweet fruit tastes like baked apples[7]. Flowers - raw. The fresh or dried leaves are used as a tea substitute.

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A decoction of the roots has been used as 'woman's medicine'[8]. A decoction of the root and lower stem has been used by barren women to try and become pregnant[8]. The root has been used in the treatment of coughs, fevers and consumption[8].

Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Infertility
Product or use
TB

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[3].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Northern Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Germany and N. Asia.
Habitat
Cool boggy places, often found amongst bilberries on hills and mountain sides, avoiding shade and calcareous soils.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[6]. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[6].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1][2][6]. Avoids calcareous soils in the wild and is often found in boggy soils[4]. Considered to be a gourmet fruit, it is occasionally sold in speciality stores[5]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩

  8. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

Edit this page