Japanese Wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius)

Family: Rosaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (5/5)

Rubus phoenicolasius is a deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Berries

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Sweet and juicy, A raspberry-type fruit, it is smaller than a raspberry, contains rather a lot of seeds and is not quite such a flavourful fruit, but it makes very nice eating all the same. — Fruit - raw or cooked.; Sweet and juicy, A raspberry-type fruit, it is smaller than a raspberry, contains rather a lot of seeds and is not quite such a flavourful fruit, but it makes very nice eating all the same.; After flowering, the fruit is enclosed in its calyx until just before it is ripe, this prevents maggots etc getting into the fruit.; The fruit is about 20mm in diameter.

Habitat & North American Range

Waste places and clearings in lowland and mountains all over Japan. Roadsides and montane valleys at low to medium elevations in China. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)