Herb latin name: Rubus palmatus


Synonyms: Rubus dulcis, Rubus edulis, Rubus microphyllus


Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family)



Edible parts of Rubus palmatus:

Fruit - raw or cooked. Yellow and juicy. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter. The leaves are a tea substitute.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Deciduous
Shrub

Height:
180 cm
(6 feet)

Flowering:
May

Habitat of the herb:

Hills and low mountains in C. and S. Japan.

Other uses of Rubus palmatus:

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 Rubus palmatus:

Hills and low mountains in C. and S. Japan.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Rubus palmatus:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.