Rubus palmatus
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[5][8][2]. Yellow and juicy[3]. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter[6]. The leaves are a tea substitute[2].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Material uses
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[4].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Japan, Korea.
- Habitat
- Hills and low mountains in C. and S. Japan[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
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[6]. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[6].
Cultivation
Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1][3][6]. One report says that this species is not very hardy in Britain[1], whilst another says that it is hardy but that it prefers warmer climates[3]. This species is a raspberry with 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[6]. The stem has small compressed prickles[6]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[6].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202