European blackberry
Rubus fruticosus

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A sprawling shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 0.9-1.8 m high and spreads 3-8 m wide. It spreads by long woody canes. These are armed with hooked prickles. Some plants can be thornless. The leaves are made up of 3-5 leaflets. These are oval or rounded. They have teeth along the edge. The upper surface is green and the lower surface is lighter and greyish. The leaf stalks are short and spiny. The flowers are white or pale pink. They occur in clusters. The fruit is made up of small fruitlets on a pithy core. They are in clusters at the ends of branches.

There are about 250 Rubus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits high rainfall areas. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 4-7. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Caucasus, Croatia, Ecuador, Eswatini, Europe, Georgia, Greece, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Italy, Korea, Kosovo, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Norfolk Island, NW India, Pakistan, Romania, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Ukraine, USA

How it is used for food

The young shoots are boiled and eaten. They are eaten in omelettes or with olive oil and lemon juice. The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used in jams and juices. They are used in pies. The young leaves are used for tea.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed, roots, or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Alish, Ancha, Baganrra, Blackberry, Bramble, Chanch, Garachey, Goracha, Groose, Kapina, Karwara, Karwarha, Kharawari, Mangroos, Mur, Pakana, Rovo, Rusuli maq'vali, Scepe, Spino, Szeder, Thway, Zarzamora

Synonyms

See Lazarides reference