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Rubus flagellaris - Willd.                
                 
Common Name Northern Dewberry
Family Rosaceae
Synonyms
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry fields, openings and borders of thickets[43] in slightly acid soils[159].
Range Eastern N. America.
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of shrub
Rubus flagellaris is a deciduous Shrub growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 2 m (6ft).
It is hardy to zone 3. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects, Apomictic.


Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Rubus flagellaris Northern Dewberry


USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Rubus flagellaris Northern Dewberry
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
   
Habitats       
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Fruit;  Stem.
Edible Uses: Tea.

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc[46, 61, 105, 161, 171, 183, 257]. A rich flavour[43]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[200]. Young shoots - peeled and eaten raw[183]. They are harvested as they come through the ground in spring and whilst they are still young and tender. The dried leaves make a fine tea[183].
Medicinal Uses


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Antihaemorrhoidal;  Antirheumatic;  Astringent;  Stimulant;  Tonic;  VD.

The root is astringent, stimulant and tonic[257]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea, venereal disease and rheumatism[257]. An infusion has been used as a wash in the treatment of piles[257]. The root has been chewed as a treatment for a coated tongue[257]. The leaves are astringent[257]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[257].
Other Uses
Dye.

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[168]. A black dye is obtained from the green twigs[207].
Cultivation details                                         
Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[1, 11, 200]. A very polymorphic species[43], it is sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit and there are some named varieties[1, 171, 183]. 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[200]. The plant produces apomictic flowers, these produce fruit and viable seed without fertilization, each seedling is a genetic copy of the parent[200]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].
                                                                                 
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[200]. Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn. Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[200].
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
Willd.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
43200
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
[43]Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany.
A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
[61]Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
[159]McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana.
A nice pocket guide to this region of America.
[161]Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237.
A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.
[168]Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants.
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
[171]Hill. A. F. Economic Botany.
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[207]Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers.
A nice read, lots of information on plant uses.
[257]Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

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