Japanese whinberry, Rubus phoenicolasius, is a delicious soft fruit that bears incredibly sweet, orange red to dark red berries with a similar flavour to grapes. It's a decorative bush, with arching canes clothed in soft, russet bristles. The fruits look similar to blackberries but are smaller and are coloured orange to red. The berries can be eaten straight from the bush when they ripen in August, or used to make jams and jellies in the same way as raspberries.
For best results, grow Rubus phoenicolasius in moist but well drained soil, in a sunny, sheltered spot, ideally trained against a south-facing wall.
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Rubus and wildlife
Rubus is known for attracting bees and other pollinators. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers.
