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In the gardens of true plant connoisseurs you can find many different wonders from the plant world. Many of them have names that attract and at the same time arouse interest, but at the same time have little connection with reality. Tibetan raspberry is a typical representative of this class of plants. It also has many inspiring names: roseleaf, strawberry, seductive raspberry, rosalin, strawberry-raspberry, blackberry, raspberry and even zemmalina. And all this is about one plant, which causes admiration and delight among some, while others reject it almost with contempt and indignation.
This difference in attitude is associated, first of all, with exaggerated expectations from the bush, which, although possessing many unique properties, is nevertheless not at all capable of replacing raspberries or strawberries, and certainly not a hybrid of them, as unscrupulous people often try to present it seedling sellers.
Description of the species
This plant belongs to the genus Rubus, that is, it is closest to raspberries and blackberries, and it is connected with strawberries only by belonging to the same rose family (Rosaceae).However, the appearance of Tibetan raspberries actually partly resembles strawberries, and in most English-speaking countries, due to this, they were secretly given the name “strawberry-raspberry”. Nevertheless, this plant is a separate wild-growing species of raspberry and is officially called by botanists seductive raspberry (Rubus illecebrosus) or rose-leaved raspberry. Perhaps these are two separate varieties, differing only in the size of the bush.
He also suggested that the birthplace of this raspberry is Japan, where it is widespread on mountain slopes and in light forests at an altitude of up to 1500 meters. According to other versions, the origins of the rose-leaved strawberry-raspberry should be sought in China and Tibet, hence one of its most popular names in Russia - Tibetan raspberry.
Since then, it has spread widely throughout North and South America, where it is even considered weedy plants. In Europe, Tibetan raspberries have been particularly popular in recent decades, especially in the Baltic countries.
Roseleaf raspberry is a very attractive outwardly rounded shrub that rarely reaches a height of more than 60-70 cm, although in its homeland it can grow up to 2-3 meters. Its rhizome is creeping and located close to the surface.
The stems of roseleaf raspberry usually grow vertically upward, their bark is green and becomes woody only at the base of the shoots. The leaves are decorative. They are characterized by:
- oblong-lanceolate shape,
- color from light to dark green,
- sheet surface corrugated with jagged edges,
- Leaf length is from 3 to 8 cm.
Both the stems and leaf petioles of the Tibetan raspberry are covered with curved thorns that cling to everything, so you need to be very careful when handling the plant. But its plantings can create an impenetrable hedge, decorated with beautiful flowers and edible, healthy berries.
Both flowers and berries of strawberry raspberries are relatively large in size, up to 4 cm in diameter. They are given additional decorativeness by the fact that they are located on the tops of the stems, above the main mass of leaves. The berries begin to ripen around mid-July, and fruiting lasts until the first frost. Moreover, one rose-leaved raspberry bush can simultaneously contain both flowers and ripe berries, which makes it even more attractive in appearance. Unlike ordinary raspberry varieties, both flowers and berries are most often located singly.
Description raspberry varieties Roseleaf will be incomplete if you do not pay enough attention to its berries. The fruits actually resemble both strawberries and raspberries in their appearance.
- They have a slightly oblong, obovate shape.
- Color ranges from coral to bright red.
- The size of the berries varies from 3.5 to 5 cm.
- Botanists call such a fruit polydrupe; the seeds are located in numerous micropapillae protruding from the surface.
- But the berries are easily separated from the receptacle, just like regular raspberries.
- The taste of the fresh fruit is neutral and does not resemble either raspberries or strawberries.
To many, the berries seem tasteless, but the light aroma and sweet and sour taste are revealed only when the Tibetan raspberry fruits are fully ripened. In addition, after heat treatment, the berries acquire a distinct strawberry or even pineapple flavor and aroma, which is actively used by many gardeners to prepare various preparations from Tibetan raspberries.
Benefits and harms
Despite the fact that at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries Tibetan raspberries enjoyed extraordinary popularity, they were subsequently forgotten for many decades and therefore no serious research was carried out on the properties of its berries. It is known that Tibetan raspberries contain many elements useful for the human body: pectins necessary for regulating the gastrointestinal tract, vitamins E and C, iron, copper, folic acid. The benefits of all the substances contained in rose-leaved raspberries can hardly be overestimated:
- The functioning of the circulatory system is maintained, the walls of blood vessels are strengthened, and their elasticity increases;
- The level of hemoglobin in the blood rises;
- An excellent remedy for the prevention of flu and colds;
- Digestion of food is normalized;
- Metabolism improves;
- Tibetan raspberries can be used as an antidepressant.
There are almost no contraindications for use - strawberry raspberries can be consumed even by pregnant and lactating women. But it is still recommended to be careful in its use for people with diabetes and those prone to allergies.
Care and cultivation
Planting and caring for Tibetan raspberries is not particularly difficult. Thanks to the advertising boom, its seedlings can be unreasonably expensive, so it is easier to find gardeners who already have Tibetan raspberries growing on their plots and ask them for a cutting. After all, it reproduces by cuttings, seeds, layering, and even pieces of rhizomes.
It can be easiest to send roseleaf raspberry seeds by mail, especially since they look almost the same as regular raspberry seeds, except perhaps a little larger in size.
Planting Tibetan raspberries correctly is not as difficult as it seems. It prefers loose neutral fertile soils in sunny places, but can also grow in partial shade. But in lowlands with high humidity it is better not to plant it. The root system of strawberry raspberries is superficial, but quite aggressive. Therefore, if your area is very small, then it is better to plant raspberry rhizomes in any container (a leaky bucket, basin, barrel, bathtub), having first buried it in a suitable place.
When planting in rows, the distance between plants is maintained at 0.8-1.2 meters. In the first year after planting, only a few berries may appear on the bushes - Tibetan raspberries are just taking root. In subsequent years, it will begin to gain strength and actively grow. Although the yield from one bush is small compared to ordinary raspberry varieties, the berries are large and appear throughout the second half of summer.
Pruning raspberry shoots almost close to the ground can be done in autumn or early spring.
This crop needs watering and fertilizers very moderately, and in the climate of the middle zone it can easily grow with virtually no care, just like in nature. In the south, Tibetan raspberries may need additional watering during the hottest and driest periods of growth. In the conditions of the Moscow region, rose-leaved raspberries overwinter well even without additional cover of the root zone. In more northern areas, it is better to cover the raspberry roots with a layer of spruce branches or other organic mulch.
Since the plant is native to Japan, it loves the warmth of the sun, but prefers the roots to be cool. In hot climates, it is advisable to mulch the root zone of Tibetan raspberries generously with compost or other organic matter, which will simultaneously serve to retain moisture and provide plant nutrition.
Tibetan raspberries can be replanted both in the spring, after the height of the above-ground part reaches 10 cm, and in the fall.
An important advantage of Tibetan raspberries is that they are not attractive to most insect pests that love to feed on regular raspberries. And this, of course, makes caring for her much easier.
Use in landscape design
Many gardeners appreciate the decorative properties of Tibetan raspberries and actively use them in landscape design.
- Its plantings will be indispensable in large areas for creating picturesque compositions on slopes for their additional strengthening;
- Considering the sharp thorns of the Tibetan raspberry and its good growth rate, it can be used to create hedges that are impassable for humans and most animals to protect the site;
- Provided it is protected from spreading, Tibetan raspberries can be used in compositions with other ornamental shrubs and perennial flowers, since its low growth allows one to admire from above a mosaic of leaves and flowers with attractive berries;
- The shrub is an excellent honey plant and attracts many butterflies, bees and bumblebees.
Reviews from gardeners
Since Tibetan raspberries are often mistakenly positioned as a hybrid of strawberries and raspberries, something more is expected from them than they can actually deliver. In this regard, gardeners’ reviews of it are very contradictory and often full of disappointment. But true connoisseurs of exoticism, beauty and benefits in plants love and enjoy growing strawberry raspberries.
Conclusion
Tibetan raspberries do not belong to the universal berries that absolutely everyone loves. But this exotic shrub deserves closer attention because of its beauty, unpretentiousness and the benefits that its berries bring.
