Bush Lawyer
Rubus cissoides
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
Rubus cissoides is a deciduous Climber growing to 4 m (13ft 1in) at a fast rate. It is in flower from June to August. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 4
Where it is found
Forests from lowland to montane areas throughout New Zealand.
New Zealand.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is about 7mm in diameter. The sap can be extracted and used raw or cooked.
Sap: usually of trees and usually but not always used as a drink.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 1
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.
How it is grown
Succeeds in most fertile soils. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it succeeds outdoors only in the mildest areas of the country and even there it requires the protection of a warm sunny wall. A vigorous grower, it can easily swamp nearby plants. Plants are sometimes erroneously labelled as R. australis. The adult and juvenile forms of this plant are quite distinct from each other. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.
Propagating it: 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.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;
Habit: Climber
Hardiness:
Growth: Fast
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Moist