Rubus caucasicus
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Perennial (hardy)
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade. 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[K]. 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[K]. A reasonably well-flavoured blackberry[K].
Material uses
A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.
Habitat
Not known