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In the gardens of true connoisseurs of plants, you can find a lot of various curiosities from the plant world. Many of them are characterized by names that attract and at the same time arouse interest, but at the same time have little connection with reality. Raspberry Tibetan is a characteristic representative of this class of plants. She has many more inspiring names: rose-leaved, strawberry, seductive raspberry, rosalin, strawberry-raspberry, blackberry, raspberry and even zemmaline. And all this is about one plant, which causes admiration and delight in some, while others reject it almost with contempt and indignation.
Such a difference in attitude is connected, first of all, with exaggerated expectations from a shrub, which, having many unique properties, nevertheless, is not at all able to replace raspberries or strawberries, and even more so is not their hybrid, 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 family of roses (Rosaceae). However, the appearance of the Tibetan raspberry berries, indeed, partly resembles strawberries, and in most English-speaking countries, thanks to this, it was secretly given the name “strawberry-raspberry”. Nevertheless, this plant is a separate wild-growing species of raspberry and is officially called seductive raspberry (Rubus illecebrosus) or rose-leaved raspberry by botanists. Perhaps these are two separate varieties, differing only in the size of the bush.
He also suggested that Japan is the birthplace of this raspberry, 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 origin of rose-leaved strawberry-raspberry should be sought in China and Tibet, hence one of its most popular names in Our Country is Tibetan raspberry.
Since then, it has spread widely throughout North and South America, where it is even considered a weed. In Europe, Tibetan raspberries have been especially popular in recent decades, most of all in the Baltic countries.
Rose-leaved raspberry is a very attractive outwardly rounded shrub that rarely reaches a height of more than 60-70 cm, although it can grow up to 2-3 meters in its homeland. Its rhizome is creeping and is located near the surface.
The stems of the rose-leaved raspberry usually grow vertically upwards, their bark is green and woody only at the base of the shoots. The leaves are decorative. They are characterized by:
- oblong-lanceolate,
- color from light to dark green,
- corrugated sheet surface with serrated edges,
- leaf length from 3 to 8 cm.
Both the stems and petioles of the leaves of the Tibetan raspberry are covered with curved, clinging spikes, so you need to be very careful when dealing with the plant. But her plantings are able to create an impenetrable hedge, decorated with beautiful flowers and edible healthy berries.
Both flowers and berries of strawberry raspberries are relatively large, up to 4 cm in diameter. They are additionally decorative due to the fact that they are located on the tops of the stems, above the main mass of the leaves. The berries begin to ripen from about mid-July, and fruiting lasts until the first frost. Moreover, on one bush of rose-leaved raspberries, both flowers and ripe berries can be located at the same time, which makes it even more attractive in appearance. Unlike ordinary raspberry varieties, both flowers and berries are most often located one by one.
The description of the rose-leaved raspberry variety will be incomplete if you do not pay enough attention to its berries. The fruits really, in their appearance, resemble both strawberries and raspberries at the same time.
- They have a slightly oblong obovate shape.
- Color from coral to bright red.
- The size of the berries varies from 3,5 to 5 cm.
- A similar fruit of botany is called a polydrupe, the seeds are in numerous micro papillae protruding from the surface.
- But the berries are easily separated from the receptacle, as in ordinary raspberries.
- The taste of fresh fruits is neutral, and does not look like either raspberries or strawberries.
To many, the berries seem tasteless, but a light aroma and a sweet and sour taste are revealed only when the Tibetan raspberry fruits are fully ripe. In addition, after heat treatment, the berries have a clear strawberry or even pineapple flavor and aroma, which is actively used by many gardeners to prepare various preparations from Tibetan raspberries.
Benefit and harm
Despite the fact that Tibetan raspberries enjoyed extraordinary popularity at the turn of the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries, they were subsequently forgotten for many decades, and therefore no serious studies of the properties of its berries were carried out. It is known that Tibetan raspberries contain many elements useful for the human body: pectins, necessary for the regulation of the gastrointestinal tract, vitamins E and C, iron, copper, folic acid. The benefits of all the substances contained in rose-leaved raspberries cannot be overestimated:
- The working capacity 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 tool for the prevention of influenza and colds;
- Digestion of food is normalized;
- Improves metabolism;
- Tibetan raspberries can be used as an antidepressant.
There are almost no contraindications to use – strawberry raspberries can be consumed even by pregnant and lactating women. But still it is recommended to be careful in its use for people with diabetes and those prone to allergies.
Care and growing
Planting and caring for Tibetan raspberries are not particularly difficult. Thanks to the advertising boom, its seedlings can be unreasonably expensive, so it’s easier to find gardeners who already have Tibetan raspberries growing on their plots and ask them for shoots. After all, it reproduces by cuttings, and seeds, and layering, and even pieces of rhizomes.
By mail, it can be easiest to send rose-leaved raspberry seeds, especially since they look almost the same as ordinary raspberry seeds, except that they are slightly larger in size.
Properly planting Tibetan raspberries is not as difficult as it seems. It prefers loose, neutral, fertile soils in full sun, 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 rather aggressive. Therefore, if your site is very small, then it is better to plant raspberry rhizomes in any container (leaky bucket, basin, barrel, bath), after digging it in a suitable place.
When planting in rows, the distance between plants is kept 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 harvest from one bush is small compared to ordinary raspberry varieties, the berries are large and appear throughout the second half of summer.
Pruning of raspberry shoots almost at the very ground can be done in autumn or early spring.
This culture needs watering and fertilizers very moderately, and in the climate of the middle lane it may well grow with little or no care, as 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 raspberry winters well even without additional shelter 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 comes from Japan, it loves the heat of the sun, but prefers the roots to be cool. In a hot climate, it is desirable to mulch the root zone of the Tibetan raspberry abundantly with compost or other organic matter, which will simultaneously serve to retain moisture and provide plant nutrition.
Tibetan raspberries can be transplanted both in spring, after the height of the aerial part reaches 10 cm, and in autumn.
An important advantage of the Tibetan raspberry is that it is not attractive to most insect pests that like to eat on ordinary raspberries. And this, of course, greatly facilitates the care of her.
Use in landscape design
Many gardeners have appreciated the decorative properties of the Tibetan raspberry and are actively using it in landscape design.
- Its plantings will be indispensable on large areas to create picturesque compositions on the slopes for their additional strengthening;
- Given the sharp thorns of the Tibetan raspberry and the good growth rate, it is possible to create hedges impenetrable for humans and most animals from it to protect the site;
- Under the condition of protection against sprawl, Tibetan raspberries can be used in compositions with other ornamental shrubs and perennial flowers, since its low growth allows you to admire from above a mosaic of leaves and flowers with attractive berries;
- The shrub is an excellent honey plant, attracting many butterflies, bees and bumblebees.
Reviews of gardeners
Since the Tibetan raspberry is often mistakenly positioned as a hybrid of strawberries and raspberries, something more is expected from it than it can really give. In this regard, the reviews of gardeners about it are very contradictory and often full of disappointments. But real connoisseurs of exoticism, beauty and benefits in plants love and grow strawberry raspberries with pleasure.
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.
