natural herbs
Dewberry
Rubus caesius
Herb: Dewberry
Latin name: Rubus caesius
Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Edible parts of Dewberry:
Fruit - raw or cooked. Succulent but not very tasty. A delicious flavour, it is considered to be superior to blackcurrants though the fruit is rather small and consists of just a few drupes. The fruit can be used for making jellies, preserves etc. The fresh or dried leaves are used as a tea substitute.Description of the plant:
Plant:
DeciduousShrub
Height:
20 cm(7 3/4 inch)
Flowering:
June toSeptember
Habitat of the herb:
Hedgerows, amongst shrubs and in rough dry meadowland, usually on basic soils.Other uses of Dewberry:
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.Propagation of the herb:
Seed - requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°C and is best sown as early as possible in the year. 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. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn.Cultivation of Dewberry:
Hedgerows, amongst shrubs and in rough dry meadowland, usually on basic soils.Medicinal use of the herb:
None knownKnown hazards of Rubus caesius:
None knownPlant information taken from the Plants For A Future.