RUBUS. Widespread, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. Best known for the raspberry, blackberry and other fearsomely prickly, rampant shrubs with delicious fruit, this genus also includes some non-threatening and ornamental shrubs and herbs. The following are as different from one another as they are from their more famous brethren. Culture and tolerances as described below.
calycinoides ‘Emerald Carpet’. This is a dense evergreen carpet with slender, hairy stems and nearly round, lobed 1-2" leaves. The leaves are dark green above, grey-furry beneath. Though the little white flowers are attractive at close range, they are not particularly impressive. It is simply a pleasant, durable, and adaptable ground cover which deserves better recognition. Sun or shade near the coast, part shade inland, most soils, moderate to occasional watering. Hardy to 10oF. or less. Introduced by the University of British Columbia.
lineatus. Himalaya, China. A shrub reputedly up to 10' tall, though I would guess only 6' or so in this selection. It suckers freely from the base, making a small thicket of arching, loosely branched stems. The leaves are large and divided palmlike into five leaflets. These look more like an artist's rendering than the real thing, for they are closely lined for their full length by straight, parallel veins, separated by small teeth on the leaf margins. Both the younger stems and the undersurfaces of the leaves are covered with silky hairs. Flowers are small and white. The fruits, if set, should be red. A striking foliage shrub. Sun or shade near the coast, part shade inland, most soils, moderate watering. Probably hardy to 15oF or less.
nepalensis. Though not as rugged as R. calycinoides, above, this species makes a beautiful ground cover for shade. The slender stems trail and branch freely to form dense mats. Closely lining them are dark 1" leaves with triplets of broad leaflets. These are deeply veined and shiny in surface. Pure white 3/4" flowers decorate the plants in late spring and early summer. Probably 15oF. or less.