Rubus tricolor
| Rubus tricolor | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 7' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Rubus tricolor (common name: creeping bramble)
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]. Plants grow best in part or full shade[4] and also succeed in dry shade[5]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[5].
Hardy to about -15°c[6]. Plants are evergreen but may be deciduous in severe winters[7].
A fast growing plant, the stems can grow by up to 2 metres per year[6][5].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[3].
Range: E. Asia - W. China.
Habitat: Steep banks and in scrub on mountains to 3000 metres[6]. Slopes, forests and thickets at elevations of 1800 - 3600 metres in Sichuan and Yunnan[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[1][2][9]. The best forms can fruit quite well and have a good size and flavour[4][K]. Another report says that they are bland[7]. The bright red fruits are up to 17mm in diameter[8].
Usage: A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[10].
A good vigorous ground cover plant for sun or shade[2][3][11]. It grows strongly but requires weeding for the first year or so[12]. New roots are formed at intervals along the stem[7]. It should only be grown with trees and other tall plants otherwise it will swamp them[K].
Pollinators: Insects
Notes: We could supply this in the next catalogue.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: R. polytrichus. non Progel.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.