Rubus parvifolius Seeds | Small-leaved Bramble
LATIN NAME: Rubus parvifolius
COMMON NAME: Small-leaved Bramble
Plant Profile
Small-leaved bramble is a scrambling shrub of the rose family, native to China, Japan, Korea and eastern Australia, where it grows on banks, in thickets and along forest edges. Its stems are slender, arching and prickly, and its small, three- to five-lobed leaves are grey-downy beneath.
Pink flowers open in early summer, followed by small red fruit. The plant spreads by arching stems that root at the tips, so a single plant can cover a bank within a few seasons. The stems are covered with fine prickles, and the leaves are small enough to be mistaken for a wild strawberry. The fruit is bright red and looks like a raspberry, though it is smaller and seedier.
Science & Biotechnology
The species is one of the Asian brambles used in Chinese medicine, where the fruit is known as mao mei and is used as a tonic. Research has looked at its anthocyanins and at the antioxidant activity of the fruit.
Its relationships within the large and taxonomically difficult genus Rubus have been examined, since hybridisation and apomixis make species hard to define. Its seed bank and its ability to root from stem tips have been studied as examples of how brambles colonise disturbed ground. The plant is also grown in Australia for land rehabilitation.
Uses & Benefits
The fruit is edible, though small and seedy, and it is used for jam in parts of China and Australia. In the garden the plant is grown for its pink flowers, its wildlife value and its ability to cover a dry bank, where its arching stems root at the tips.
It is also a useful plant for a wild hedge, where its thorns deter intruders and its fruit feeds birds. The leaves are used in local medicine as an astringent, and the root has a place in decoctions for stomach complaints.
In Australia it is one of the few brambles native to the country, and it is valued in bush regeneration for covering disturbed ground without the aggression of introduced blackberries. Its fruit is eaten by birds and small mammals.
Growing from Seed
Sow in autumn after cleaning the seed, and stratify for three months; germination is often in the second year. Plant out in sun or light shade in light, well-drained soil, and water in the first summer. Seed germinates better after a cold period, so sow in autumn and leave the pots outside. The plant can also be raised from cuttings of the arching stems, which root easily in damp sand.
Cut out old canes after fruiting to encourage new growth, and keep the plant within bounds, since it layers freely where stems touch the ground. Wear gloves when pruning, because the prickles are fine and numerous.
Our Take
A bramble for a wild corner, with pink flowers, small fruit and a talent for covering ground. It is not a plant for a tidy border, but it earns its place on a bank.
Related Reading
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