Rubus abbrevians

Blanchard

Vermont Blackberry

RosaceaeFruit
⚠ Dangerous Lookalikes — Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below
Rubus abbrevians
wikimedia · cc-by
Wikimedia Commons - naturalist charlie
Rubus abbrevians
gbif · cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
Rubus abbrevians
gbif · cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and has a sweet taste.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY
Red Baneberry
Red Baneberry
Actaea rubra
SAFE
Rubus abbrevians
Vermont Blackberry
Rubus abbrevians
Actaea rubra
Actaea rubra
Rubus abbrevians
Rubus abbrevians

Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.

Vermont Blackberry: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

North America, USA,

Countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, St Vincent

How to Identify

A deciduous shrub with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils, preferring well-drained conditions. Tolerates mildly acidic to basic pH, semi-shaded or fully sunny locations, and prefers moist soil.

How to Grow

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. This species is a naturally occurring hybrid in N. America, its parentage involves R. glandicaulis. It is closely related to. and possibly part of R. pensylvanicus. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation: Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed needs one month stratification at about 3°c and should be sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame, then plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame. Tip layering in July, planting out in autumn. Division can be done in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Other Uses

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

A deciduous shrub with hermaphroditic flowers pollinated by insects. Grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils, preferring well-drained conditions. Tolerates mildly acidic to basic pH, semi-shaded or fully sunny locations, and prefers moist soil.

Notes

There are about 250-700 Rubus species.

References (1)
  • Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

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