Rubus pascuus
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[2]. Rich and juicy[6].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Material uses
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[4].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America.
- Habitat
- Dry to wet argillaceous, siliceous or peaty soils[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- 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[5]. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[5].
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. This species is considered to be no more than a synonym of R. longii by some botanists[6]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1][3][5]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[5].
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
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00