Rubus Ichangensis

Description

A very rare, semi-deciduous bramble, making long slender stems bearing most attractive, solitary, arrow-like leaves in a herring bone pattern. Dense bunches of white flowers finally produce elongated but compact clumps of almost opalescent orange-red fruits, which posses a unique good flavour when ripe. Almost certainly the latest to fruit of all brambles in the UK, ours was still fruiting on a shady bank in December (when this picture was taken)! Also an excellent ground cover plant, it is sumptuous when planted to overhang a wall or container. Like most brambles it does best if controlled and trained. Native to Central and W. China, it was discovered by Henry, and introduced in 1900 by famous Plant Hunter Wilson, who stated that it is one of the finest of Chinese Rubi in regard to its fruits....

Sowing Advice

Seeds can be sown at any time of the year onto a sandy, gritty, loamy compost (NOT one based on pure peat). Barely cover with sand or grit, but these seeds NEED light to activate the germination mechanism. NO artificial heat is needed, and may prevent germination. The seed tray is best left in a cool spot and kept moist. Seeds generally germinate very, very slowly indeed, but usually appear in the spring whenever they are sown, although odd ones may come up at any time. Grow small plants on before planting out.

Key Facts