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Rubus species - .

Hybrid Berries

Author	.	Botanical references	200
Family	Rosaceae	Genus	Rubus
Synonyms
Known Hazards	None known
Range	A range of garden hybrids.
Habitat	Not known in the wild.
Edibility Rating	2 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	0 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Shrub growing to 3m at a fast rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Sunny Edge;

Cultivars: (as above except)
'Boysenberry' Dappled Shade; North Wall By; East Wall By;
'King's Acre Berry' Dappled Shade; North Wall By; East Wall By;
'Sunberry' Dappled Shade; North Wall By; East Wall By;
'Tayberry' Dappled Shade; North Wall By; East Wall By;
'Veitchberry' Dappled Shade; North Wall By; East Wall By;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit.

Fruit - raw or cooked[200].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil[1, 11, 200]. Succeeds in acid and calcareous soils[186]. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade[1, 11, 200], though it fruits less well in the shade[202]. Established plants are drought resistant[132]. Hardy to about -15°c[202]. This species has 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[200]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

Propagation

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. This plant is a cultivar and will not breed true from seed. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200]. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[200]. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.

Cultivars

'Boysenberry'

The fruit is very large, 3cm or more long[183]. A bramble flavour. The large dark red fruits have a distinct flavour[202]. The fruit is produced in mid season[253]. Of unknown origin[200]. There is a form that is thornless, though this possibly fruits less heavily[202]. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Withstands fairly dry conditions and still fruits well. It is of moderately vigorous growth[200] and high yielding[183]. The plant usually produces lots of new canes each year and it might be necessary to thin some of these out during the summer[253]. Plants are best spaced 3 - 3.6 metres apart[253].

'King's Acre Berry'

Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet and refreshing. It comes away from the plant like a Raspberry. This plant is perhaps an American blackberry rather than a cross between a blackberry and a rapberry, in which case it might best be included under R. ursinus[253]. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Fruits on 2 year old wood. Prune out all these shoots after they have fruited.

'Sunberry'

The fruit has an excellent flavour. It is a little smaller than the Tayberry, but produced much more abundantly[183]. Easy to pick though rather soft. A hybrid, R. ursinun x a seedling of the raspberry 'Malling Jewel'[200]. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Fruits on 2 year old wood. Prune out all these shoots after they have fruited. A very vigorous plant, space plants 4.5m apart. Yields up to 11 kilos of fruit per plant.

'Tayberry'

The fruit is large with a rich aromatic flavour. Larger and less acid than the loganberry[200]. One of the earliest ripening of the hybrid berries, ripening in July[253]. Derived in cultivation by crossing the blackberry 'Aurora' with a tetraploid raspberry[200]. There is also a thornless form, often called the 'Buckingham Tayberry'[253]. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Fruits are produced on 2 year old wood. Prune out all these shoots after they have fruited. Crops heavily and regularly. It is best to allow shoots to grow 2.4 metres or more long[253].

'Veitchberry'

The fruit is sweet and juicy. An excellent flavour, though it is said to be inferior to the loganberry[200].. This cultivar is a cross, R. rusticanus x Raspberry 'November Abundance'[200]. It is a parent of the blackberry 'Bedford Giant'[200]. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Fruits on 2 year old wood. Prune out all these shoots after they have fruited. Crops heavily and regularly[183]. Space plants 2.5m apart.

Links

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth. 0
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[186] Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979
An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202] Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[253] Hodgson I. (Editor) The Garden Volume 123 Royal Horticultural Society 1998 ISBN 0308-5457
Articles on Fuchsia species, cultivars of Blackberries.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Rubus species

Glyn Davies Thu May 31 2007

Others thta cold be mentioned include - Phenomenal Berry, Lowberry, Newberry & the Malling Hybrid once sold by Lord Blackmoor's Estate nurseries.

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