Rubus ulmifolius
Schott
Evergreen Thornless blackberry, Elm-leaf Blackberry
(c) Rafael Carvalho, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) smmribeiro, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) smmribeiro, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Sprouts, Leaves, Flowers
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is aromatic and sweet, though the drupelets tend to be small and somewhat dry.
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.
Evergreen Thornless 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. In NW Pakistan it grows in fertile mountain valleys. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.
Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Europe, India, Italy, Mediterranean*, Mexico, Morocco, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Peru, Portugal, San Marino, Sicily, South America, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA,
How to Identify
A shrub. It grows 2.4 m high and spreads 3 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The stems arch over. The leaves have 3-5 leaflets. They are downy underneath. The flowers are white or pale pink. The fruit are purple-red.
Nutrition Score: 2/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | — | 403 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — |
How to Grow
Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil. Succeeds on chalk or clay soils, preferring open habitats in the wild. Tolerates poor soils so long as they are not dry. Succeeds in sun or semi-shade and also in deep shade though growth is more lax in such a position. Hardy to about -18°c. Plants reproduce sexually and not apomictically like many brambles. Individual plants are self-sterile. This species is a blackberry with 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. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus. Berries are typically harvested in summer, from late spring to early autumn, depending on the species and local climate. Rubus species generally flower in late spring to early summer, usually from May to June (Northern Hemisphere), depending on the specific species and environmental conditions. Rubus species are known for their vigorous growth and can establish quickly, often spreading through both seeds and vegetative propagation. They can reach maturity in 1 to 2 years, with some species growing rapidly within a single growing season.
Propagation: Seed requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed should be stratified for one month at around 3°C and sown as early in the year as possible. Prick out seedlings when large enough to handle, grow on in a cold frame, and plant out into permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July or August in a frame. Tip layering in July; plant out in autumn. Division can be done in early spring or just before leaf-fall in autumn.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
Rubus species work well as ground cover, helping prevent soil erosion while providing habitat and food for birds, beneficial insects, and other wildlife. Their thorny growth also acts as a natural barrier. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Dense thickets offer shelter and nesting sites for small animals and birds, and the stems and leaf litter provide overwintering habitat for invertebrates. A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit. The root yields an orange dye when mixed with salt.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Rubus ulmifolius is a species of wild blackberry known by the English common name elmleaf blackberry or thornless blackberry and the Spanish common name zarzamora. It is native to Europe and North Africa, and has also become naturalized in parts of the United States (especially California), Australia, and southern South America.
Other Information
The fruit are especially eaten by children.
Notes
There are about 250 Rubus species.
Names & Synonyms
Achddir, Akhi, Alish, Amora-preta, Amuredda, Baghanra, Bakarun, Bardissa, Carnero, Chermou, Divlja jagoda, Gharangavo, Goraj, Kanachi, Karwara, Kumpiena, Kupina, Kupjena, Manaferra, Mora, Mure che chalipo, Murra, Romeguera, Rosita, Rovo, Rubu, Ruve, Ruvtale, Scepe, Scepon, Tatchalt, Taynajelt, Zarcera, Zarza, Zarzal, Zarzamora, Zazie
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