Australian Native Raspberry in Plant of the Week

 PLANT OF THE WEEK Scientific Name: Rubus parvifolia Common Name:Native raspberry Native Habitat: found mainly along the east coast in rainforest or coast heath communities. Description:A scrambling vine or shrub the shoots from underground rhizomes with hooked thorns to help it climb.  Height-Width: 2 x 2 m Flowering: December to April Fruiting:Juicy fruit produced in clusters. Position: Full sun or part shade. Attributes: Dry tolerant once established. <p> </p> <a href='https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y36ccCgcQvE/YYNqaBpu06I/AAAAAAAAk98/YnGdmJ5G37QMsMMxNGqz60NP0clQyb2oACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Rubus_parvifolius.JPG'></a> Rubus parvifolia <p> Not all fruiting vines or canes come from the northern hemisphere, Australia has quite a lot of its own. These plants have similar fruits and are easier to grow than there northern counterparts so why are we growing them more? </p> <p>My experience is observing one such plant in Sydney Botanic gardens, scrambling on a stream bank near the Palm House. This plant is part of the native garden along with banksias, grass trees, lomandras, carpobrotus and many others, including a peppermint gum.</p> <p>The habit of rubus species is to keep suckering and spreading, much like the non-native blackberry bushes, so take care where exactly you plant it in your garden.</p> <p>Listen to the podcast to find out more.</p> <p>I'm talking with horticulturist and native plant afficionado, Adrian O’Malley </p> <p>PLAY : Rubus parvifolius_25th August 2021</p>