Practical
Plants

Rubus ursinus

Pacific Dewberry

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Rubus genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Rubus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
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 and used in pies, preserves etc[6][7]. The fruit can also be dried for later use[7]. A sweet flavour[4][12][2][3]. The fruit can vary in flavour, the best forms have a large, sweet and well flavoured fruit[7], whilst some forms are large but sour or insipid[8]. Young shoots - raw or cooked like asparagus[7]. They are harvested in the spring as they emerge through the soil and are still tender. A tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[6][7][11]. The young shoots can be made into a tea, usually mixed with the young shoots of other Rubus species[11]. The half-ripe fruits can be soaked in water to make a pleasant drink[7].

Product or use
Drink
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Stem

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 dried bark of the root is astringent and has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[10]. A decoction of the roots has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[11]. The roots have been used as a disinfectant wash on infected sores[11]. The fresh fruit has been eaten in the treatment of diarrhoea[11]. A decoction of the entire vine has been used in the treatment of stomach complaints, diarrhoea and a general feeling of sickness[11]. A decoction of the vines and roots has been used in the treatment of vomiting and the spitting of blood[11].

Product or use
Astringent
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[5].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California to Oregon.
Habitat
Waste places, fields, canyons etc below 1000 metres[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
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.

Seed - requires stratification, is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed as early as possible in the year in a cold frame and stratify for a month at 3°c if sowing later than February. 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. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring.

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][4][9]. This species is the parent of many hybrid cultivated forms[13], including the loganberry and the primus berry[7]. Some botanists include the cultivated loganberry (treated here as a separate species, R. loganobaccus) under this species[9]. This species is a blackberry 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[9]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[9].

References

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

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

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  3. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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

    ↩1↩2

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

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  6. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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

    ↩

  13. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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