An attractive although somewhat spiny species. Found through much of Tropical and sub-tropical Asia and Australasia. White felty stems with very small thorns. Large heart shaped leaves(mature leaves are more palmate and develope brown central markings) ,small pink or white flowers and edible red fruits. Donated by Mt Annan Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Australia.

nepalensis        

Himalayan ground cover species. Leaves and flowers are somewhat reminiscent of a strawberry.Small stems are covered in tiny red hairs. Likes damp shade, but pretty adaptable.

niveus

White ghostly stems in winter. White flowers followed by the sweetest, black fruit. Rarely seen in this country. In the tropics this species has become a very invassive weed.

odoratus          

A North American species with attractive deep pink flowers in summer, occasionally followed by the odd fruit when grown in cultivation.

palmatus var coptophyllus          

Large palmate leaves are the main feature of this species.The fruits that follow the small white flowers are edible and have reasonable flavour.

parkeri     (W) 
A fast growing, monster of a species from China. Large, rounded leaves, sharp thorns and covered in long red hairs
parviflorus          

Lovely, large white flowers with a yellow centre are followed by red flat fruits in late summer. Large palmate leaves.

pectinellus               ( W )

Creeping, evergreen ground cover with heart shaped leaves that colour up wonderfully in shade. Foliage has a silver edge with an almost black center(tends to turn green if exposed to light). Small white flowers in summer and small red fruit.

peltatus            

My favourite of the "Ghost Brambles"! The red-purple stems are covered in a white bloom, this combined with their zig-zag growth pattern makes for a very attractive winter interest plant. Large white flowers are followed by tasty red fruits which are still cultivated as a food crop today. Native of Japan, but now also present in China.

pentalobus         (W)
This is a much confused species! A ground cover species from China and Taiwan. Often confused with the species R. rolfei, which has some of the same characteristics, but is only found in the Philippines. R. pentalobus has also been known as R.calyicinoides, but this name is no longer correct. this species makes a superb ground cover in shallow soils. The yellow fruits are very tasty. The form 'Emerald Carpet' is sometimes available, but is no different from the true species.
pheonicolasius                  

This must be one of the more famous rubus species! Known as the "Japanese Wineberry", this plant has been cultivated in many parts of the world for centuries for its very tasty, sticky, red fruits. The whole plant is covered in fine red hairs and makes for an attractive winter garden plant. The white flowers and fruits that follow are   surrounded by sticky, feathery bracts. Native of Japan, but has escaped through much of   Asia.  

reflexus        ( W ) 

Very beautiful species. Found through much of Tropical and sub-tropical Asia. Cinnamon coloured felty stems with very small thorns. Large palmate leaves with a silver tint and dark centre. This plant was donated by The Royal Botanical Gardens Kew and was wild collected in Hong Kong.

reflexus var hui        ( W )(Collectors number: BWC001)  

This is my own collection of this species from the Mangshang mountain reserve, Hunan, China. This is a variety of reflexus, the leaves are lighter coloured and more elongated. Hairy stems are a light beige colour. This collection has proven to be hardy and has survived several British winters in the open.

reflexus var lanceolabatus        ( W )(Collectors number: BWC073)  

This is my own collection of this species from a gorge not far from the city of Guilin, Guangxi, China. This is a variety of reflexus, the leaves are very beautiful, palmate and deeply lobed, almost hand shaped. Fruits are bright orange and sweet in flavour. borderline hardy.

rolfei       ( W )

A superb ground cover species! Prostrate, carpet forming habit. Small, crinkled, deep green leaves. White flowers in summer followed by orange, very tasty fruits. This is the true species from the Philippines although the name is often given to a very similar species from China and Taiwan (R.pentalobus).

rosifolius
A very common species through much of Asia, although there are probably alot of similar plants in collections under this name that have been given it due to the leaves looking rose-like and not because it has been exactly identifed as the true species. We have the true species collected in the foothills above Taipei and identified by an eminent Chinese botanist.
rosifolius var coronarius                

One of the most attractive flowering species. Rose-like foliage, hence the name, and large, double, white flowers that appear over a long season.Grows wild through Southern China into South East Asia and Australasia.

saxatilis              ( W )

Growth habit and appearance very much like a strawberry. A scrambling or creeping bramble of dry ground and stony places such as sand dunes. The fruits of the "Stone Bramble" are red.

schmidelioides                   ( W )

This species from New Zealand is one of the so called `Bush Lawyers`, "once they get hold of you they don`t let go!" The mass of tiny thorns grip onto anything they touch like a hook. Very thin wiry stems.

setchuenensis                       ( W )

A fabulous foliage plant from China. Large, simple leaves with dark marking when young. The insignificant pink flowers are followed by a heavy crop of sweet black fruits.Woody stems have an arching habit. Thorns are so minute, its almost thornless. There are several forms of this species, we have 4 in the collection.

spectabilis        

North American species commonly known as the "Salmon Berry". The pink flowers that appear in spring are followed by tasty orange fruits in June. This is one of the first species to set fruit. There is a very attractive double flowering form sometimes called "Olympic Double" (plena flora).

squarrosus

This species is known in its native New Zealand as the `Leafless Lawyer`. Very unusual wiry stems, minute leaves at the very tips. masses of tiny yellow thorns. 

swinhoei      ( W )

Rare in cultivation. wrongly named in my collection-see R.liuii. I have the true species from China, but those plants seen of this species on a trip to Taiwan, differ greatly. Maybe my plant should be R.swinhoei var chinensis.