Rubus strigosus
American Red Raspberry
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc[1][10][19][20][23][2][9]. Young shoots - harvested as they emerge through the ground in the spring, peeled and eaten raw or cooked like asparagus[23][2][6][9]. The leaves and twigs are used as a tea substitute[6][9].
- 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.
Antiemetic[5][7]. The leaves and roots are anti-inflammatory, astringent, decongestant, ophthalmic, oxytocic and stimulant[21][5][7][14][17]. A tea made from them is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, as a tonic for the uterus to strengthen pregnant women, and as an aid in childbirth[21][14][18]. The tea has also been shown as effective in relieving painful menstrual cramps[14]. The active ingredients both stimulate and relax the uterus[14]. They can be used during the last three months of pregnancy and during childbirth, but should not be used earlier[16]. Externally, the leaves and roots are used as a gargle to treat tonsillitis and mouth inflammations, as a poultice and wash to treat sores, conjunctivitis, minor wounds, burns and varicose ulcers[16][18]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and dried for later use[24]. The fruit is antiscorbutic and diuretic[22]. Fresh raspberry juice, mixed with a little honey, makes an excellent refrigerant beverage to be taken in the heat of a fever[13]. Made into a syrup, it is said to have a beneficial effect on the heart[13].
- Product or use
- Antiemetic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Birthing aid
- Product or use
- Cardiac
- Product or use
- Decongestant
- Product or use
- Oxytoxic
- Product or use
- Refrigerant
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[8].
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- N. America - Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to New Mexico.
- 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
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[11]. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[11].
Cultivation
Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1][3][11]. A parent of some of the cultivated raspberries[3][20], it is often used in modern breeding programmes[4]. This species has 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[11]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[11].
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
Roach. F. A. Cultivated Fruits of Britain. Oxford University Press 1985-00-00
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
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
Livingstone. B. Flora of Canada National Museums of Canada 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-660-00025-3
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7
Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2