Rubus ursinus
CALIFORNIA TRAILING PACIFIC BLACKBERRY
SKU: 1539-5
Description
Rubus ursinus is a North American species of blackberry or dewberry, known by the common names California blackberry, California dewberry, Douglas berry, Pacific blackberry, Pacific dewberry and trailing blackberry. The plant is native to western North America, found mainly in British Columbia (Canada); California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington (Western U.S.); and Baja California state (Mexico).
The plant is cultivated for its fruit, and also ornamental plant qualities. It is planted in home, native plant, and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping projects. It can be espaliered or trained on fences and trellising.
The flowers are white with narrower petals than most related species, and are fragrant. The sweet, very aromatic, edible fruits are dark purple, dark red, or black and up to 2 centimetres (3⁄4 inch) in length.
Diverse wildlife eat the berries, including songbirds, deer, bear, and other large and small mammals. It is of notable pollinator and nesting material value for native bee and bumble bee species. This blackberry species is a larval food source for Papilio rutulus (the western tiger swallowtail butterfly), Nymphalis antiopa (the mourning cloak butterfly), Strymon melinus (the gray hairstreak butterfly), and Celastrina ladon (the spring azure butterfly).
Native Americans such as the Kumeyaay, Maidu, Pomo and Salish peoples used R. ursinus as a fresh and dried fruit source.
Type: Hardy shrub
Location: Sun or part sun
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Seeds per pack: 10
Germination: Start these seeds right away for best germination rates. Start indoors. Soak the seeds for 12-24 hours before planting. Your planting container should have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Then cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 60-90 days. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for them to germinate. Germination is generally 30-90 days after the warming period, though some can take longer. Do not discard the planting tray, as patience is needed, and they are well worth the wait.
Description
Rubus ursinus is a North American species of blackberry or dewberry, known by the common names California blackberry, California dewberry, Douglas berry, Pacific blackberry, Pacific dewberry and trailing blackberry. The plant is native to western North America, found mainly in British Columbia (Canada); California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington (Western U.S.); and Baja California state (Mexico).
The plant is cultivated for its fruit, and also ornamental plant qualities. It is planted in home, native plant, and wildlife gardens, and in natural landscaping projects. It can be espaliered or trained on fences and trellising.
The flowers are white with narrower petals than most related species, and are fragrant. The sweet, very aromatic, edible fruits are dark purple, dark red, or black and up to 2 centimetres (3⁄4 inch) in length.
Diverse wildlife eat the berries, including songbirds, deer, bear, and other large and small mammals. It is of notable pollinator and nesting material value for native bee and bumble bee species. This blackberry species is a larval food source for Papilio rutulus (the western tiger swallowtail butterfly), Nymphalis antiopa (the mourning cloak butterfly), Strymon melinus (the gray hairstreak butterfly), and Celastrina ladon (the spring azure butterfly).
Native Americans such as the Kumeyaay, Maidu, Pomo and Salish peoples used R. ursinus as a fresh and dried fruit source.
Type: Hardy shrub
Location: Sun or part sun
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Seeds per pack: 10
Germination: Start these seeds right away for best germination rates. Start indoors. Soak the seeds for 12-24 hours before planting. Your planting container should have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Sow the seeds just under the surface of a sterile seed-start mix, and water in. Then cover them with plastic and place in a fridge for 60-90 days. Be sure they stay moist. After the cold-moist stratification period they are then brought back to room temperature (20-22 °C, 68-72 °F) for them to germinate. Germination is generally 30-90 days after the warming period, though some can take longer. Do not discard the planting tray, as patience is needed, and they are well worth the wait.
