Rubus palmatus

Thunberg

Thimbleberry, Maple-leaved berry

Rosaceae Edible: Fruit 264 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Rubus palmatus, also known as mayberry, is an ornamental bramble that has white flowers and yellow edible fruits that ripen in May. It is native to Korea and Japan.

Description

A shrub that loses its leaves during the year. It grows 1-2 m high. The branches are slender. They have prickles. The leaves are simple and have lobes arranged like fingers on a hand. There are 3-5 lobes. The leaves are 5-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The leaves have coarse teeth. The leaves are softly hairy underneath and have prickles along the midrib. The leaf stalks are 2-4 cm long and have prickles. The flowers are white and occur singly. They are 3 cm across. The fruit is yellow and hangs down.

Edible Uses

The fruit is yellow and juicy, about 20mm in diameter, and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves can be used as a tea substitute.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also made into wine.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Japan, Korea,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. One report says that this species is not very hardy in Britain, whilst another says that it is hardy but that it prefers warmer climates. 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. The stem has small compressed prickles. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed needs one month of stratification at about 3°C and should be sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle, grow on in a cold frame, and plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame. Tip layer in July and plant out in autumn. Division can be done in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Other Uses

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.

Notes

There are about 250 Rubus species.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Red Baneberry

Actaea rubra

Walter Siegmund (talk)

Safe

Thimbleberry

Rubus palmatus

Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.

Thimbleberry: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.

Synonyms

R. dulcis. R. edulis. R. microphyllus. non L.f. R. palmatoides.

References (4)

Chen, B. & Qiu, Z., Consumer's Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. p 24 www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/aip/872413.pdf (As Rubus palmatus var. coptophyllus)
Fl. jap. 217. 1784
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 459
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/