Rubus idaeus
L.
European Red Raspberry
Didier Descouens (via Wikimedia Commons)
Tomwsulcer (via Wikimedia Commons)
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(c) Ole Husby, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) Lenny S., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Leaves, Twigs, Leaves - drink
The fruit is delicious eaten fresh and is also used in pies and preserves. The root can be cooked, though it should be neither too young nor too old and requires a lot of boiling. Young shoots can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked like asparagus; they are harvested as they emerge from the ground in spring while still tender. Dried leaves make a pleasant herb tea, and a tea blended from raspberry and blackberry leaves is also said to make an excellent coffee substitute.
Dangerous Lookalikes
This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.
Red Baneberry: Short herbaceous plant (no thorns), berries on thick red stems, each berry has a single seed, compound sharply-toothed leaves.
European Red Raspberry: Thorny woody canes (brambles), aggregate berry made of many drupelets, berries pull easily from receptacle.
Where to Find It
It is a cold temperate climate plant. It needs deep well drained soil. The soil should be rich in humus. It needs shelter from wind and can grow in part shade. A mild summer and cool to cold winter is best. It needs about 600 hours of cold below 7°C each year. It will grow in high mountains in Java. It will grow as far as 70°N in Scandinavia. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.
Africa, Alaska, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Estonia, Europe, Falklands, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mediterranean, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Serbia, Siberia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Indies, Yugoslavia,
How to Identify
A small cane-like shrub. It grows 1.5-2 m tall. The branches are red or brown. They have a few prickles. The leaves are often divided into 5-7 leaflets. The flowers are white. They can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit are red or orange and half round. They are 1-1.4 cm across. There are many named varieties.
Nutrition Score: 32/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit - stewed | 94.6 | 110 | 26 | 0.9 | 85 | 23 | 1.3 | — |
| Fruit - raw | 83.2 | 105 | 25 | 0.9 | 80 | 25 | 1.2 | 0.5 |
How to Grow
Prefers a good deep well-drained loamy soil on the acid side. Dislikes very heavy soils, light soils and alkaline soils. Prefers an open position but tolerates some shade. Plants crop less well when grown in the shade of trees though they do well in the open on a north-facing slope. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5. Raspberries are frequently cultivated in temperate regions of the world, both in the garden and commercially, for their edible fruit. There are many named varieties able to supply fresh fruit from mid-summer to the autumn. High costs of picking the fruit means that little is actually sold fresh, most of the commercially cultivated crops either being used for preserves or grown for the 'Pick Your Own' trade. All the cultivars are self-fertile. 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. It is best not to grow raspberries near blackberries or potatoes. Plan. Heat zone: 9-1.
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 layer in July and plant out in autumn. Divide in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.
Medicinal Uses
The leaves and roots are anti-inflammatory, astringent, decongestant, ophthalmic, oxytocic, and stimulant. A tea made from them is used to treat diarrhoea, as a uterine tonic to strengthen pregnant women, and as an aid during childbirth. It has also been shown effective in relieving painful menstrual cramps. The active constituents both stimulate and relax the uterus; they may be used during the last three months of pregnancy and during childbirth, but should not be used earlier. Externally, leaves and roots are used as a gargle for tonsillitis and mouth inflammations, and as a poultice or wash for sores, conjunctivitis, minor wounds, burns, and varicose ulcers. Leaves are harvested in summer and dried for later use. The fruit is antiscorbutic and diuretic. Fresh raspberry juice mixed with a little honey makes an excellent cooling drink during fever. Made into a syrup, it is said to have a beneficial effect on the heart.
Other Uses
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit. Stem fibres are used to make paper: stems are harvested in summer after fruiting, leaves removed, and the stems steamed until fibres can be stripped. The fibres are then cooked for 2 hours with lye and hand beaten with mallets or ball milled for 3 hours, producing a light brown paper. A decongestant face mask made from the fruit is used to soothe reddened skin.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Rubus idaeus (raspberry, also called red raspberry or occasionally European red raspberry to distinguish it from other raspberry species) is a red-fruited species of Rubus native to Europe and northern Asia and commonly cultivated in other temperate regions.
Other Information
About 300,000 tons are produced each year. It is sold in local markets. It is cultivated.
Notes
There are about 250 Rubus species.
Names & Synonyms
Ahududu, Avenes, Avietes, Bringebaer, Dum, Framboesa, Framboise, Frambuesa, Fu pen zi, Gerdera, Himbeere, Lampone, Malina, Maline, Malna, Manafa, Mjedra, More, Moreni, Ompoure, Njetra, Vaarikas, Vabarn, Vagoi, Vavoi, Vavarno, Yezo ichigo, Zholi, Zholo, Zmeur
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