Orangeberry (Rubus pentalobus)

[Indilwen]

Orangeberry (Rubus pentalobus)
This fast growing groundcover is from the same family as strawberries and raspberries. It produces a dense weed suppressing mat of dark green, grape-like leaves that are frost tolerant and have a purple tinge during winter.

Great for weed suppression or on banks which are too steep to mow.

They will grow in shade but flowers best in full sun so plant in a sunny well drained site. Feed sparingly and only when foliage is pale green. They grow well in a container and will produce more fruit.

[Xiousia]

A native of Taiwan, this spectacular, fast-growing, evergreen groundcover is from the same family as Strawberries and Raspberries. Please Note: This is an amazing groundcover but a reluctant fruiter, the trigger for fruiting is still a mystery. However when it does fruit you will enjoy!

Landscape Value
An excellent plant for weed suppression or to stabilise banks, to prevent erosion, and wonderful in pots or hanging baskets with the rich foliage flowing over the sides, trim the edges to maintain size It is not just for ditches or slopes, it looks particularly nice when grown in a raised bed or planter and allowed to cascade over a wall or container. Some landscapes have difficult sites, such as hot, dry, erodible slopes or ditches where soil moisture fluctuates from very wet to very dry. Not many plants tolerate these conditions, but Orangeberry, Rubus pentalobus, is one that will. In fact, it not only survives, it thrives under harsh growing conditions.

Nutritional Value
Cancer-fighting ellagic acid, fibre-rich seeds, vitamin C & A, folate, potassium, iron & calcium

How to Eat
Orangeberry gives a dramatic colour contrast in a berry fruit salad or berry pie.

Expected Yield
As they are resistant fruiters yield is hard to predict.

Generic Fruiting Time


J F M A M J J A S O N D

Growing
Sun
Will grow in shade but flowers best in full sun so plant in a sunny well drained site.

Wind
Wind will keep bees and insects away from pollination.


Climate
Frost tolerant with foliage turning purple in winter.

Soil
Will grow in sandy or clay soil but does not like wet soil.

Fertiliser
Feed sparingly and only when foliage is pale green apply a granular fertilizer in early spring. Apply fertiliser when the foliage is dry, and use a broom or rake to remove excess granules from the leaves. Then water with overhead irrigation to wash off any residual fertiliser.

Pruning
Do not prune unless you wish to encourage fruiting- flowers and fruit appear on current wood.

Pests
Die-back fungal so will need to be sprayed if the conditions are humid and damp.

Hardiness
-1.5°C once established and leaves get a purple tinge but will not die off.

Special Conditions
To encourage fruiting: do not feed, apply potash, do not prune, and restrict roots.

[Xiousia]

Orangeberry



Medium sized bell-shaped fruit with orange flesh. Fruit are ripest when the calyx has reflexed to expose the berry fully. The fruit when ripe has a tangy flavour reminiscent of orange cordial.

Habit - Orangeberries are stunning with their dense mat of miniature, tough, dark-green, grape-like leaves that are frost tolerant and have a purple tinge during winter.

Size - 15-25cm tall, with a cover of, 2 square metres spread.

Pollination - Bees & insects, pollination may be the problem. Eg. cold or windy conditions that affect bee and insect activity at flowering (early spring). After research carried out it has now been established that orangeberry is in fact infertile and requires cross pollination from another member of the rubus family. Although our trials are still continuing we believe that raspberries and blackberries will pollinate the orangeberry.

Harvest - Delicate white flowers arrive in spring followed by bright orange fruit for Xmas. Ripe fruit "touch pick" to give berries with no woody core. Orangeberry takes 2-3 years to fruit. Mid summer.

[Xiousia]

ORANGE BERRY:

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[Xiousia]

ORANGE BERRY TWO:

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[Xiousia]

ORANGE BERRY THREE:

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