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Rubus rosifolius

roseleaf bramble

Rosaceae Eastern Australia and Asia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Rubus rosifolius is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub in the Rosaceae family with arching, prickly canes reaching 2-6.5 feet (0.6-2 m) tall. The compound leaves have 5-7 toothed leaflets 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, resembling the foliage of a rose, and the canes carry slender straight prickles. White flowers 0.8-1.6 inches (2-4 cm) across open singly or in small groups from spring into summer. The fruit is a red, hollow aggregate 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) long that ripens in summer; it is edible but watery and mild in flavor. Canes are biennial, growing one year and fruiting the next before dying back, while the perennial root system produces new canes each season. Growth is rapid, and the plant spreads by seed and by suckering roots, forming thickets that can crowd other plantings and naturalize beyond cultivation in mild climates.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia and to subtropical and temperate Asia, from the Himalayas through southern China to Japan and Southeast Asia. Grows along forest margins, clearings, and creek banks in moist, partly shaded sites. Naturalized in Hawaii, southern Africa, and other warm regions.

Suggested Uses

Grown in fruiting and edible gardens and in informal native plantings, spaced 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) apart. The suckering, self-seeding habit makes it difficult to contain in small or formal gardens. The fruit is eaten fresh or cooked, though it is mild and watery compared with cultivated raspberries.

How to Identify

Identified by rose-like compound leaves of 5-7 sharply toothed leaflets and slender straight prickles on green canes. The white flowers are larger than those of most brambles, up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) across. The ripe fruit is bright red, hollow, and conical, separating cleanly from the core like a thimble.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 6'6"

Width/Spread3' - 6'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~9 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers from spring into summer, roughly September to January in its native range. Individual flowers last a few days, with the plant blooming over 6-10 weeks. Fruit follows within a few weeks of each flush of flowers.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on moist, well-drained soil with added organic matter. Water during dry spells to maintain fruiting; growth and fruit set drop under prolonged drought. The plant suckers from the roots and self-seeds, spreading into a thicket and into adjacent areas. Old fruited canes die back and can be removed at the base each year. Sap-sucking insects and leaf rust can affect the foliage in humid conditions.

Pruning

Remove canes that have fruited at ground level once they die back, as they do not produce again. Thin crowded new canes to limit the density of the thicket. Cutting back suckers along the margins restricts the spread.

Pruning Schedule

summerfall