Rubus spectabilis
Salmonberry
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Rubus genus in the family Rosaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[1][12][7][16][2][10]. Juicy with a very good flavour[9][10]. The fruit can be made into jams and jellies[14]. This species is not of much value in Britain, it does not fruit freely in the cooler summers of this country and the fruits do not always develop their full flavour[3]. The fruit can range in colour from yellow, through orange to red, it is about the size of a cultivated raspberry but is rather inferior in flavour and often has a distinctive bitterness, especially in cooler summers[K]. Another report says that it fruits freely in Britain[9]. Young shoots - peeled and eaten raw or cooked like asparagus[3][2][4][10][14]. They are harvested in the spring as they grow above the soil and whilst they are still tender[5]. Flowers - raw[8]. The leaves are used as a tea substitute[10].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Stem
- 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.
The leaves and the root are astringent[8]. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been used as a dressing on burns[14]. The root bark is analgesic, astringent, disinfectant and stomachic[14]. A decoction is used in the treatment of stomach complaints[14]. A decoction has been used to lessen the pains of labour[14]. The powdered bark has been used as a dusting powder on burns and sores[14]. A poultice of the bark has been applied to wounds and aching teeth to ease the pain[14]. A poultice of the chewed bark has been used as a dressing to relive pain and clean burns and wounds[14].
- Product or use
- Analgesic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Disinfectant
- Product or use
- Odontalgic
- Product or use
- Poultice
- Product or use
- Stomachic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[6]. The hollowed stems are used as pipes[17]. (The report does not specify what type of pipes)
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Pipes
Environment
- Range
- Western N. America - Alaska to California. Occasionally naturalized in Britain[7].
- Habitat
- Moist spots in and about woods below 300 metres in California[15].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, 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.
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[13]. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[13].
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]. Grows well in the shade of trees[13] though it is less likely to fruit well in such a position[K]. Hardy to about -25°c[11]. A very ornamental plant, but it is invasive[1]. It does not fruit well in Britain[3], but has become naturalized in Surrey and Cumbria in cool acid woodland soils[9]. 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[13]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[13].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Gunther. E. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-295-95258-X
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
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
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9
Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7