Scientific Name:
Rubus armeniacus
Pronunciation:
ROO-bus ar-men-ee-AH-kus
Common Name:
Himalayan blackberry
Family Name:
Rosaceae
Plant Type:
Invasive plant, Semi-evergreen, Vine or climber, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Invasive, scandent weed; stems have large prickles and those laying on ground can root at nodes; leaves alternate, pinnately compound, leaflets 3-5, ovate-oblong, most 5-12(-15)cm long x 3-6(-10)cm wide (terminal leaflet blade is the largest and has a petiolule up to 6cm long), with prickles on rachis and petiolules, base rounded to slightly cordate, margin serrate; cymes of fragrant flowers ~4cm wide, 5 white petals, multiple simple pistils; fruit an aggregate of drupelets, red maturing black, 1-2cm long.
Habit:
Arching, Spreading
Form:
Round
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
3 - 5m
Mature Spread:
5 - 7m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia (Naturalized In BC)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Security/barrier, Urban agriculture
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Prickly, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Digitate (palmate)
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Cordate, Rounded
Margins:
Serrulate
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun, Jul
Additional Info:
Many simple pistils
Fruit Type:
Aggregate fruit, Drupe, Edible
Fruit Colour:
Black
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Showy, Edible
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Additional Info:
R. armeniacus var. inermis lacks prickles
Organ Modifications:
Aerial or climbing roots, Fibrous-like roots, Prickles, Stipule (leafy), Brambles
Propagation:
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Hardwood cuttings, Layering
Maintenance:
High
Other:
Cut plants to ground and plant trees that can compete and block out light
Pest Susceptibility:
Anthracnose, Mold, Rust, Scale insects, Wilt
Course(s):
- HORT 1155
- Level 2 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (BUG) BUG garden
- (FSC) Far South Campus
- (WDY) WeeDY location