Rubus parviflorus

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Rubus

Life cycle

perennial

Foliage

deciduous

Woodiness

woody

Growth rate

moderate

Height

2.5 m

Spread

2 m

Fertility

Insects

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked^{[17][2][4][11]}. It makes excellent jams and preserves^[16]. The fruit can also be dried for later use^[11]. A sweet and pleasant flavour^[12][18][19] though this is not always properly developed in the cooler summers of Britain^[3]. The fruit is very seedy^[5]. Rich in vitamin C^[11]. The hemispherical fruit is about 20mm in diameter^[13]. Young shoots - peeled and eaten cooked or raw^{[12][18][2][4][9]}. The shoots are harvested as they emerge in the spring, and whilst they are still young and tender^[6][11]. They can be cooked like asparagus^[16]. The shoots are rich in vitamin C^[11]. Flowers - raw^[9].

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.

The leaves are antiemetic, astringent, blood tonic and stomachic^[9][16]. An infusion is used internally in the treatment of stomach complaints, diarrhoea and dysentery, anaemia, the spitting up of blood and to treat vomiting^[15][16]. An infusion has been taken by women when their periods are unusually long^[16]. A poultice of the dried powdered leaves has been used to treat wounds and burns^[16]. The leaves have been crushed and rubbed over the skin to treat pimples and blackheads^[16]. A poultice of the leaf ashes, mixed with oil, has been used to treat swellings^[16]. The young shoots are alterative and antiscorbutic^[16]. The roots are appetizer, astringent, stomachic and tonic^[9][16]. An infusion has been used by thin people to help them gain weight^[16]. An infusion has also been used in the treatment of stomach disorders, diarrhoea and dysentery^[15][16]. A decoction of the roots has been taken in the treatment of pimples and blackheads^[16].

Material uses

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

The leaves are used to line baskets etc for carrying soft fruit or other delicate items^[20][4]. Plants are very vigorous and can be grown as a tall ground cover for large areas^[14]. A soap is obtained from the boiled bark^[20][4][16]. A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit^[7].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche

Soil surface

Environment

Range

Western N. America - Alaska to Ontario and California. Occasionally naturalized in Britain^[8].

Habitat

Woodlands, canyons and open areas^[17].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 3+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

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

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][3][13]. Can be grown in a woodland garden though it is less likely to fruit well in such a position[K]. This plant has perennial stems without prickles^[13] and is less invasive than the related R. odoratus^[10]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus^[13].

Related plants

• Rubus speciesHybrid Berries
• Rubus abbrevians
• Rubus acaulisDwarf Raspberry
• Rubus acer

References

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

   ↩

2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

   ↩1↩2

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

   ↩1↩2

4. Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

5. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

   ↩

6. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

   ↩

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

   ↩

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

   ↩

9. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

10. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

14. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

15. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14

17. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

18. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2

19. Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. 1962-00-00 ISBN 0-911010-54-8

    ↩

20. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2