Rose-leaf bramble
Rubus rosifolius

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A spiny evergreen creeping shrub. It grows to 3 m high and spreads to 3 m across. The stem is trailing and forms suckers. The leaves have 3 to 7 leaflets on opposite sides of the stalk. These are either smooth or hairy with lobed edges. The leaflets are 1-9 cm long. The flowers are white and 3 cm across. The fruit are red and about 1.5 to 2 cm across. They occur on their own or in clusters. They are juicy and tasteless. They have several seeds inside which are very tiny.

There are about 250 Rubus species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It can grow in the lowlands and highlands. Plants are resistant to drought and frost. They are common in forests of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in the Philippines at low and medium altitudes. They are common in the highlands. In Papua New Guinea, Rubus rosifolius grows from 750-2800 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Polynesia, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, St Helena, St Lucia, Swaziland, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Papua, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They can also be stewed with sugar or made into jam. The young leaves are also eaten.

The plants are common in Papua New Guinea. The fruit is eaten especially by children. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They both grow wild. The fruit are crushed in water and the seeds float free. These are left overnight when the seeds sink and the flesh floats. Seeds can take 3 months to germinate. They could be grown by division of the root or from cuttings. Cuttings grown easily.

Its other names

Local names

Arbei tropis merah, Beberetean, Bramble-of-the-Cape, Cape bramble, Dum la-huong, Fongwez, Framboesa-silvestre, Frambuesa, Frutilla del monte, Gahkyeng, Gampe aselu, Gempe aselu, Gharunggung, Gucen, Init, Kashempong-pot, Katigaro, Kobabol kul, Kongxinpao, Malief, Mantum, Maranguinho-do-mato, Mauritius raspberry, Mon barang, Sagmit, Sapinit, Sepfulicu, Sumugisim, Thimbleberry, Tropical Red raspberry, Ujen-ujen, Voaroy, Zarza

Synonyms

Rubus commersonii Poir.; Rubus coronarius (Sims) Sweet; Rubus eustephanos var. coronarius (Sims) Koidz.; Rubus rosaefolius; Rubus rosifolius var. coronarius Sims;