Rubus ampelinus
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It is treated by some botanists as a subspecies of Rubus lambertianus. 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 requires one month stratification at about 3°c and is best sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn.
Edible uses
Fruit - raw or cooked.
Material uses
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.
Habitat
Slopes, stony ravines and forest margins at elevations of 200 - 2500 metres in Gansu, Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang Provinces.
Native range
E. Asia - China, Japan.