There is no general agreement over the correct name for this species. We are following the treatment in the Flora of China[], which is also followed in GRIN, but The Plant List treats it as a subspecies of Rubu idaeus (as Rubus idaeus subsp. melanolasius Dieck ex Focke), whilst the Flora of Japan[] lists it as Rubus idaeus var. aculeatissimus Regel & Tiling
The genus Rubus, (especially the blackberries, which are often loosely referred to as Rubus fruticosus agg.) presents some of the most difficult taxonomic problems. This is partly due to the frequency of polyploidy; also to the frequent occurrence of hybridization; and also due to apomixis, where minor differences between plants are preserved because seedlings are genetically identical to their parent. As a result, differences of opinion on the number of species to be recognized from a given region can vary tremendously (for example, a treatment by M. L. Fernald[] in 1950 recognized 205 species for the northern half of the eastern United States plus parts of southeastern Canada, whilst H. A. Gleason and A. Cronquist in 1991 recognized only 25)[]. Where possible, a relatively conservative approach is taken here[].

Common Name:

General Information

Rubus sachalinensis is a deciduous shrub producing a cluster of deciduous, prickly stems 30 - 200cm tall from a rhizomatous rootstock. The stems only produce leaves, and do not flower, in their first year, forming flowering branches in their second year and then dying after fruiting[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is cultivated as a fruit crop in Chabarovsk (Russian: Amur), where it is also used in breeding programmes[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - eastern Siberia, Russian Far East, Mongolia, China, Japan, Korea

Habitat

Thickets, open woods and fields[]. Forests, forest margins, thickets, grasslands, ravines, valleys, rock crevices and slopes; at elevations from 400- 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a good well-drained loamy soil in sun or semi-shade[, , ].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].
The species is regarded as an autotetrapoid derivative of Rubus strigosus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. Rather dry[]. A sweet flavour[]. The red, ovoid aggregate fruit is about 10mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant is used in Rubus breeding programmes in Chabarovsk (Russian: Amur)[].

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit[].

Propagation

Seed - requires stratification and is best sown in early autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires one month stratification at about 3°c and is best sown as early as possible in the year. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a cold frame. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Tip layering in July. Plant out in autumn.
Division in early spring or just before leaf-fall in the autumn[].