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Slender-spined Bramble

Rubus elegantispinosus

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Rosales
Family:
Rosaceae (Rose)
Also in this family:
Acute Leaf-lobed Lady's-mantle, Alpine Cinquefoil, Alpine Lady's-mantle, Ampfield Cotoneaster, Arran Service Tree, Arran Whitebeam, Barren Strawberry, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Service Tree, Bearberry Cotoneaster, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Bloody Whitebeam, Bramble, Bristol Whitebeam, Broad-leaved Whitebeam, Broadtooth Lady's-mantle, Bronze Pirri-pirri-bur, Bullace Plum, Bullate Cotoneaster, Burnet Rose, Catacol Whitebeam, Caucasian Lady's-mantle, Cheddar Whitebeam, Cherry Laurel, Cherry Plum, Chinese Photinia, Cloudberry, Clustered Lady's-mantle, Common Agrimony, Common Hawthorn, Common Lady's-mantle, Common Medlar, Common Ninebark, Common Whitebeam, Crab Apple, Creeping Chinese Bramble, Creeping Cinquefoil, Crimean Lady's-mantle, Cultivated Apple, Cultivated Pear, Cut-leaved Blackberry, Damson, Devon Whitebeam, Dewberry, Diel's Cotoneaster, Dog Rose, Doward Whitebeam, Dropwort, Elm-leaved Bramble, English Whitebeam, Entire-leaved Cotoneaster, False Salmonberry, Field Rose, Firethorn, Fodder Burnet, Fragrant Agrimony, Franchet's Cotoneaster, Garden Lady's-mantle, Garden Strawberry, Giant Meadowsweet, Glaucous Dog Rose, Goatsbeard Spiraea, Gough's Rock Whitebeam, Great Burnet, Greengage Plum, Grey-leaved Whitebeam, Hairless Lady's-mantle, Hairy Lady's-mantle, Hautbois Strawberry, Himalayan Blackberry, Himalayan Cotoneaster, Himalayan Whitebeam, Hoary Cinquefoil, Hollyberry Cotoneaster, Hupeh Rowan, Hybrid Cinquefoil, Hybrid Geum, Irish Whitebeam, Japanese Cherry, Japanese Quince, Japanese Rose, Jew's Mallow, Juneberry, Lancaster Whitebeam, Late Cotoneaster, Least Lady's-mantle, Least Whitebeam, Leigh Woods Whitebeam, Ley's Whitebeam, Liljefor's Whitebeam, Littleleaf Cotoneaster, Llangollen Whitebeam, Llanthony Whitebeam, Lleyn Cotoneaster, Loganberry, Many-flowered Rose, Margaret's Whitebeam, Marsh Cinquefoil, Meadowsweet, Midland Hawthorn, Mougeot's Whitebeam, Mountain Ash, Mountain Avens, Mountain Sibbaldia, Moupin's Cotoneaster, No Parking Whitebeam, Ocean Spray, Orange Whitebeam, Pale Bridewort, Pale Lady's-mantle, Parsley Piert, Pirri-pirri-bur, Plymouth Pear, Portuguese Laurel, Purple-flowered Raspberry, Quince, Raspberry, Rock Cinquefoil, Rock Lady's-mantle, Rock Whitebeam, Round-leaved Dog Rose, Round-leaved Whitebeam, Rum Cherry, Russian Cinquefoil, Salad Burnet, Sargent's Rowan, Scannell's Whitebeam, Service Tree, Sharp-toothed Whitebeam, Sherard's Downy Rose, Shining Lady's-mantle, Ship Rock Whitebeam, Short-styled Rose, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Silver Lady's-mantle, Silverweed, Slender Parsley Piert, Small-flowered Sweetbriar, Small-leaved Sweetbriar, Soft Downy Rose, Somerset Whitebeam, Sorbaria, Sour Cherry, Southern Downy Rose, Southern Lady's-mantle, Spineless Acaena, Spring Cinquefoil, St. Lucie's Cherry, Steeplebush, Stern's Cotoneaster, Stirton's Whitebeam, Stone Bramble, Sulphur Cinquefoil, Swedish Service Tree, Swedish Whitebeam, Sweet Briar, Symond's Yat Whitebeam, Tengyueh Cotoneaster, Thimbleberry, Thin-leaved Whitebeam, Tibetan Cotoneaster, Tormentil, Trailing Tormentil, Tree Cotoneaster, Trefoil Cinquefoil, Twin-cliffs Whitebeam, Two-spined Acaena, Wall Cotoneaster, Water Avens, Waterer's Cotoneaster, Waxy Lady's-mantle, Welsh Cotoneaster, Welsh Whitebeam, White Burnet, White's Whitebeam, White-stemmed Bramble, Wild Cherry, Wild Pear, Wild Plum, Wild Service Tree, Wild Strawberry, Willmott's Whitebeam, Willow-leaved Bridewort, Willow-leaved Cotoneaster, Wineberry, Wood Avens, Wye Whitebeam, Yellow-flowered Strawberry
Type:
Deciduous shrub
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
2 metres tall
Habitats:
Fields, riversides, towns, wasteland, waterside, woodland.

Flower:
֍
Pink, 5 petals
 
Pink flowers. Many yellow stamens.
Fruit:
The fruit is a black berry.
Leaves:
The leaves are divided into 3 to 5 broad-toothed leaflets. The stems are covered in thin purple spines, about 8mm long. Mainly found around the areas of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds on suburban railway banks.
Frequency (UK):
Occasionally seen  

Similar Species

Himalayan Blackberry

Bramble
Bramble

Elm-leaved Bramble
Elm-leaved Bramble

Other Information

Summary

Slender-spined Bramble, also known as Rubus elegantispinosus, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family. It is native to Europe, and is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, fields, and along streams and rivers. The plant is a deciduous shrub with thin, spiny stems and leaves, and it produces clusters of small, pink flowers in the summer. The fruit is a small, red raspberry that is sweet and juicy when ripe. Slender-spined Bramble is closely related to other species of bramble, such as blackberries and red raspberries. Do you have any other questions about this plant?

Blog

Slender-spined Bramble (Rubus elegantispinosus) is a species of bramble that is native to eastern North America. It is a shrub that can grow up to 1.5 meters in height and is typically found in wooded areas, along streams and in damp meadows.

One of the unique features of Slender-spined Bramble is its spines, which are long, slender and have a distinctive, elegant appearance. These spines are an important characteristic for identification and are a key factor in the plant's name. The spines serve as a deterrent to herbivores, helping to protect the plant from browsing animals.

In addition to its spines, Slender-spined Bramble is also known for its small, white or pink flowers that bloom in early summer. These flowers are followed by small, juicy, red or black berries that are an important food source for many species of birds and mammals.

While Slender-spined Bramble is not commonly cultivated, it is a valuable plant for wildlife habitat and conservation. Its dense growth provides cover for a variety of animals, including small mammals and reptiles, and the berries are an important food source for many species of birds.

It is also a hardy plant, capable of thriving in a variety of conditions, from full sun to partial shade. Slender-spined Bramble is not typically used in landscaping due to its spines and its tendency to spread aggressively, but it can be a useful plant for erosion control and wildlife habitat restoration.

Slender-spined Bramble is also known for its ability to adapt to different types of soil, from sandy to clay. It is not fussy about soil pH either and can grow in soils that are acidic or alkaline. This adaptability, combined with its hardiness, makes it a suitable plant for areas that have been disturbed, such as roadsides and abandoned fields.

It is important to note that Slender-spined Bramble is a prolific grower and can quickly spread to become invasive if not properly managed. To control its spread, it is recommended to remove any shoots that emerge outside of its desired area and to avoid planting it near areas where it can spread into natural habitats.

Slender-spined Bramble is a valuable plant for many reasons, including its ability to provide habitat and food for wildlife, its adaptability to different growing conditions, and its attractive appearance. If you are looking for a hardy, attractive plant that can help support local wildlife, Slender-spined Bramble is definitely worth considering.

In addition to its ecological benefits, Slender-spined Bramble has some cultural significance as well. The berries of the plant have been used for food by indigenous people for centuries and are still used by many today. The berries can be eaten fresh, cooked into jams and jellies, or dried for later use.

In some cultures, Slender-spined Bramble is also believed to have medicinal properties. The roots, leaves, and stems of the plant have been used to treat a variety of ailments, including digestive problems and skin conditions. However, it is important to note that the use of Slender-spined Bramble for medicinal purposes has not been extensively studied and it is always best to consult with a healthcare professional before using any plant for medicinal purposes.

In conclusion, Slender-spined Bramble is not only a valuable plant for wildlife and conservation, but it also has cultural and medicinal significance. Its unique appearance, combined with its hardiness and adaptability, make it a plant worth considering for anyone interested in supporting local wildlife, growing interesting and attractive plants, or exploring the traditional uses of plants.