Common Name: rubus
Type: Deciduous shrub
Family: Rosaceae
Native Range: Central China
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 15.00 to 18.00 feet
Spread: 15.00 to 18.00 feet
Bloom Time: June
Bloom Description: Light red to pink
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: High
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Good Fall
Attracts: Birds, Butterflies
Other: Thorns
Culture
Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Has good shade tolerance. Prune immediately after fruiting. Not reliably winter hardy in USDA Zone 5 and should be grown in a protected location therein.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Rubus henryi var. bambusarum is a fast-growing, rambling, evergreen, climbing bramble that produces long, prickled stems (canes) which, if supported, can grow up to 20' tall. It is usually grown for its handsome foliage: trifoliate leaves (each lance-shaped leaflet being 4-6" long) which are glossy, deep green above and white below. Pink flowers appear in slender panicles in summer and are followed by blackish fruits.
Genus name is the Latin name for brambles (blackberry and raspberry).
Specific epithet honors Irish medical man and plant-collector Augustine Henry (1857-1930). He made vast collections in China and Formosa.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Needs support. Winter hardiness can be a problem in the St. Louis area.
Uses
Best grown with support in somewhat the same manner as a rambling rose.