Cutleaf Blackberry

Rubus ulmifolius

Native to:
Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Belgium, Corse, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Morocco, Netherlands, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rosaceae
Genus:
Rubus
Species:
Rubus ulmifolius
USDA Symbol:
RULA

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Subshrub , Vine
Height:
300 cm
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
white, pink
Food Forest:
Contains edible parts

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Proeulia sp.

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, small mammals, bees, butterflies
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from root crown after fire or cutting. Forms dense thickets that can increase fire fuel loads.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
30–180 days
Notes:
Germination is erratic and can take several months. Scarification followed by cold stratification improves rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI