Rubus squarrosus aka Bush Lawyer

Rubus squarrosus is an evergreen shrub from New Zealand. It belongs to the rose family, Rosaceae. Its common names include leafless lawyer and bush lawyer. Another name is yellow-prickled lawyer. Kew describes its form as a scrambling subshrub. In gardens, it makes a low mound of tangled stems. It keeps its foliage through the year, though leaves are sparse.

Garden plants reach about 1.6 feet (0.5 m) tall. Their spread reaches about 3.3 feet (1 m). The RHS gives five to ten years to reach maturity. Green stems carry small prickles spaced along their length. These prickles range from pale yellow to almost white. The leaves give this plant its unusual look. Most of each leaf blade is missing, leaving a thread-like shape. The stems and fine leaves define the plant's form.

Small yellowish flowers may appear during summer. They grow in panicles up to 0.5 feet (0.15 m) long. Orange-red fruit can follow, but British plants seldom bear it. Flowering is not assured in cultivation. The RHS notes that full sun makes flowering unlikely. Its species account gives no information about fruit edibility. It also gives no species-specific assessment of toxicity. The fruit's colour alone does not establish whether people can eat it.

Grow this shrub in soil that drains well. The RHS lists both full sun and partial shade. It accepts clay, loam, and sand, with acid to alkaline pH. Moist soil with good drainage suits it. A sheltered site matches the RHS growing guidance. South-, west-, and east-facing sites are all listed as suitable. Its UK hardiness rating is H4. This covers minimum temperatures of about −10 to −5°C. Kew places the species within the temperate climate zone.

The RHS suggests containers, patios, and borders beside walls. It also lists the shrub for low-maintenance planting. Pruning is optional rather than a routine need. Gardeners can raise plants from seed or semi-ripe cuttings. Tip layering in autumn offers another means of propagation. Pests seldom cause trouble, according to the RHS. Grey mould may occur, while honey fungus is a rarer risk. These disease risks qualify its otherwise straightforward care needs.