Rubus australis aka Bush Lawyer

Rubus australis is moderately easy to establish but requires ongoing management due to its vigorous climbing habit and sharp prickles. It tolerates a wide range of conditions including frost, sun, drought, shade, and wind, making it adaptable to various garden situations. The plant is easily propagated from layered stems, semi-hardwood cuttings, or seed (with cold stratification). However, it is notably susceptible to honey fungus, and its aggressive growth means regular pruning may be necessary to keep it contained.

Rubus australis is a vigorous climbing vine with stems that can reach over 10 meters in length. Primary stems on mature plants can grow up to 100mm in diameter. Juvenile plants initially creep across the ground with rooting stems before climbing into surrounding vegetation. The growth rate is fast, and the plant will scramble over and through other vegetation using its characteristic hooked prickles to anchor itself.

Rubus australis can be propagated through several methods. Tip layering in July produces roots that can be planted out in autumn. Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in July-August root readily. Seeds require 4-6 weeks of cold stratification before sowing in early autumn in a cold frame. Division can be done in early spring or before autumn leaf-fall. The plant naturally spreads by stems that root where they touch the ground, making layering the simplest propagation method.

Rubus australis flowers from August to October in its native New Zealand habitat (late winter to mid-spring in the Southern Hemisphere). The flowers are white, cream, or pinkish, appearing in branched panicles up to 200mm long. Individual flowers are small with five petals (3-6mm long) and are sweetly fragrant. The plant is dioecious, meaning separate male and female plants are needed for fruit production.

Rubus australis is pollinated by insects, attracted by the sweetly scented flowers. The plant is dioecious (having separate male and female plants), so cross-pollination between different plants is essential for fruit production. Bees are important pollinators, and the plant is valued as bee forage in New Zealand gardens. Both male and female plants must be present in the area for successful fruiting.

Rubus australis grows exclusively outdoors and is hardy in USDA zones 8-11 (UK hardiness zone 9). In Britain, it succeeds only in milder regions due to limited cold hardiness. The plant thrives in temperate climates similar to its native New Zealand, tolerating light frosts but not severe winters. It grows best in damp ground with good light exposure, and adapts well to forest margins, scrubland, and wetland edges.

The fruit of Rubus australis is edible, either raw or cooked. The berries are yellow to orange-red when ripe, appearing from December to April, and resemble small blackberries. Opinions on flavor vary—PFAF describes them as 'juicy with outstanding flavour' while New Zealand sources call them 'insipid'. Māori traditionally ate the fruit and found it pleasant. The sap can also be extracted and consumed as a beverage. The plant has an edibility rating of 2 out of 5.

While modern herbal medicine databases rate Rubus australis as having no established medicinal uses (0/5), it has documented traditional Māori medicinal applications. A decoction of the bark was taken for severe abdominal pain and as a purgative. The root bark was valued as a remedy for diarrhea and dysentery. An infusion of leaves was taken for chest congestion, coughs, and sore throats. The plant was also used in post-childbirth treatments to promote healing.

Beyond its edible fruit, Rubus australis has limited other uses with a rating of 1 out of 5. A purple to dull blue dye can be obtained from the fruit. The plant provides valuable wildlife habitat and serves as bee forage due to its fragrant flowers. It can be grown as an ornamental climbing plant for its attractive flowers and colorful fruit, though its prickly nature limits widespread garden use.

Yes, Rubus australis produces sweetly perfumed flowers. The fragrant white, cream, or pinkish blooms appear from August to October and attract insect pollinators, particularly bees. The plant is valued as bee forage in New Zealand gardens partly due to this pleasant floral scent.

Rubus australis is notably susceptible to honey fungus (Armillaria), a serious fungal disease that attacks the roots and can kill plants. This is the primary disease concern documented for the species. The plant's sharp prickles provide some natural protection against browsing animals. As with other Rubus species, it may potentially be affected by fungal leaf spots or rust in humid conditions, though specific pest problems are not well documented.

Rubus australis requires careful management due to its vigorous growth and sharp prickles. Pruning should be done with thick protective gloves and long sleeves. Remove dead or damaged stems and cut back excessive growth to maintain desired size and shape. The plant can be trained on supports or allowed to scramble through other vegetation. Regular pruning helps prevent the plant from becoming too dominant in garden settings.

Rubus australis tolerates light frosts but has limited cold hardiness, succeeding outdoors in USDA zones 8-11 (minimum temperatures around -10°C/14°F). In the UK, it grows only in milder regions (zone 9). The plant is adapted to New Zealand's temperate oceanic climate with mild winters and cool summers. It can tolerate brief frost exposure but prolonged severe cold will damage or kill the plant.

Rubus australis has one documented synonym variety: Rubus australis monstr. pauperatus (Cockayne ex Focke, 1911). In New Zealand, several closely related native Rubus species share the common name 'bush lawyer', including R. cissoides, R. squarrosus, and R. schmidelioides. These can be distinguished by leaf shape and size—R. australis has broader, coarsely serrated elliptic to ovate adult leaves with about 10 or fewer teeth per side.

Bush Lawyer’s native range is New Zealand.

Bush Lawyer should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Bush Lawyer loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

To ensure optimal growth, the Bush Lawyer prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

The Bush Lawyer should be transferred to a new pot once it has increased in size two-fold, or on an annual basis, whichever occurs earlier. Replacing the soil with fresh potting soil containing all the necessary nutrients, is sufficient enough to support the growth of the plant, thus avoiding the need to use fertilizer. It's important to note that plants derive their energy from the sun and not fertilizer.

Bush Lawyer is not known to cause harm to humans or pets.