Rubus sachalinensis

A deciduous shrub reaching 1.5 m tall with hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by insects. Flowers appear June to July with seed ripening July to August. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Grows in mildly acidic to alkaline conditions in semi-shade or full sun, preferring moist soil.

Description

A shrub. It grows 0.6-2 m tall. The branches are purplish brown. They have soft hairs when young. It has straight prickles which can be red or brown. The leaves are divided 3 to 5 times. The leaf stalk is 2-5 cm long. The leaflet blade is 3-7 cm long by 1.5-4 cm wide. A few flowers occur together in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit is round and red and about 1 cm across. They are sweet and edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, though it is rather dry. The red fruit is about 1cm in diameter.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In China it grows on the edges of forests and in rocky valleys between 400-2500 m altitude in N China.

Where It Grows

Asia, Central Asia, China, Europe, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mongolia, North America, Russia, USA,

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 by some botanists to be no more than a sub-species of R. idaeus as R. idaeus aculeatissimus. Reg.&Til. Another report says that it is best treated as R. idaeus canadensis. Fern. 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. 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 and grow on in a cold frame, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July or August in a frame. Tip layering can be done in July, with plants set out in autumn. Division is possible in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Other Uses

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

Other Information

It is cultivated.

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

Sakhalin raspberry

Rubus sachalinensis

(c) Aleksandr Ebel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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

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

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ku ye xuan gou zi

References (7)

• Dzhangaliev, A. D., et al, 2003, The Wild Fruit and Nut Plants of Kazakhstan, Horticultural Reviews, Vol. 29. pp 305-371 (Ed. Jules Janick)
• Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9
• Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 458 (As Rubus idaeus var. aculeatissimus)
• Lu Lingdi, Boufford, D.E., Rubus. Flora of China.
• Mansfield's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops p 425

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