Elm-Leaved Bramble, Elmleaf blackberry
Rubus ulmifolius

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

Rubus ulmifolius is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower in July, and the seeds ripen in August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 3

Where it is found

Very common in many habitats, succeeding on chalk and clay and preferring open sunny habitats.

Europe, including Britain, from he Netherlands south and east to N. Africa, Italy and Macaronesia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Fruit - raw or cooked. Aromatic, but with small dryish drupelets. Sweet.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 1

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit. The root yields an orange dye when mixed with salt.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

How it is grown

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil. Succeeds on chalk or clay soils, preferring open habitats in the wild. Tolerates poor soils so long as they are not dry. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade and also in deep shade though growth is more lax in such a position. Hardy to about -18°c. Plants reproduce sexually and not apomictically like many brambles. Individual plants are self-sterile. This species is a blackberry with biennial stems, it produces a number of new stems each year from the perennial rootstock, these stems fruit in their second year and then die. 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; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

R. discolor. Syme. non Weihe.&Nees.