Rubus odoratus
| Rubus odoratus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 8' |
| Width: | 8' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Early Fall |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Rubus odoratus (common name: thimbleberry)
Propagation: 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: Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1][2][3]. Grows well in a sandy soil but does not like clay[4]. Prefers a semi-shaded position. Does well in a woodland garden though it is less likely to fruit well in such a position.
A very ornamental plant[1], it is hardy to about -30°c[5].
The glandular hairs on the stems have a powerful resinous scent somewhat like cedarwood[6].
A vigorous suckering shrub, it has perennial stems without prickles[3].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[3].
Range: Eastern N. America - Quebec to Ontario and south to Tennessee. Occasionally naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: Moist thickets and woodland borders[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[8][9][10]. Somewhat tart and dry[11], it is usually cooked and used in pies, jellies, preserves etc[12]. The fruit can be dried for later use[10]. This species rarely fruits well in Britain, probably due to our cooler summers[2].
Medicinal: The leaves are highly astringent[13]. They are used in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea[14]. The leaves have been used as a wash for old and foul sores, boils etc[10].
A decoction or infusion of the branches has been used to settle the stomach[10].
A decoction of the leaves and stems has been used to treat kidney complaints[10].
The root is astringent. A decoction of the root or the root bark has been used as a treatment for diarrhoea and colds[10]. The root has been used in the treatment of toothaches[10].
The berries have been used as a diuretic[10].
Usage: A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[15].
Plants are very vigorous and can be grown as a tall ground cover for large areas[16].
Pollinators: Bees
Notes: We could supply this in the next catalogue.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Coffey, Timothy. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File, 1993.
- ↑ Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.