Common Bramble is a
native
perennial plant of the UK, typically found growing in woodland, hedgerows and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 250cm.
Common Bramble is also known as the Blackberry, emphasising its role as a producer of edible berries. Wild blackberries are a popular forage food that can be eaten fresh, baked into pies and puddings or turned into jam. The Bramble has also been cultivated for use as a domestic plant and has been bred to provide larger berries and thornless varieties. It has also been crossed with Raspberry cultivars to produce the Loganberry and the Tayberry.
Botanic classification and naming: Common Bramble is a member of the Rose (Rosaceae) family. The genus name
'Rubus' identifies the plant as a Blackberry and its species name 'fruticosus' means 'bushy plant'.
Concerns: Bramble has numerous large barbed thorns along its scrambling stems which can cause injury. Its vigorous growth and firmly-anchored roots and suckers make it a difficult plant to control.
Benefits: Bramble is pollinated by bees and hoverflies and its berries are eaten by mammals and birds. Bramble leaves also provide food for deer and caterpillars of several species of moth and butterfly, including the Holly Blue. The plant also attracts grass snakes, for predation and shelter.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
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