Botanical name:

Rubus australis

Common name(s):

Tātarāmoa, bush lawyer, swamp lawyer

About:

A vigorous and very prickly climber is found in various forests throughout New Zealand. This intriguing plant exhibits shorter, broader leaves compared to other species in its family, and it produces distinctive yellowish-orange fruit that closely resembles blackberries in appearance.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane. Usually in forest but also found in scrub, and often on the margins of, or within wetlands.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Drought, Shade & Wind tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s North & South Islands

Height: 10m

Flowering: 

August – October with a white coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December – April with a orange-red coloured fruit that looks similar to a blackberry

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Climber’s, Flowers & Container Friendly.

How to grow:

Easily grown from layered stems and semi-hardwood cuttings. Flourished when planted in damp ground in a well-lighted situation. Not often grown on account of its prickly stems - but nevertheless an attractive plant. The fruits though edible are lacking in flavour.

** 4 to 6 weeks cold stratification is recommended for seed.