The raspberry is a plant that has been harvested for centuries for its sweet yet tart fruit. The plant is an important fruit crop, and as such is widely cultivated. The leaves of the raspberry have been prized for centuries as useful in a variety of folk medicine cures for such things as canker sores, gingivitis, and even anemia.
The raspberry is a deciduous perennial plant which bears stems, or canes from its perennial root system. Growing up to 6-9 feet tall the plant has pinnate leaves of five lobes and thorny offshoots. The fruit is ripens in late summer and is made of a cluster of densely packed drupelets. The black raspberry looks like a blackberry in form and appearance, but the flavor is unique unto itself, neither tasting like a blackberry, or a red raspberry.
The berries are nutritious, containing moderate levels of vitamin C, and are high in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are useful as natural dyes, but more importantly are high in antioxidants, which has led to the black raspberry becoming highly prized as a plant with nutraceutical value. There has even been some research into the usefulness of the black raspberry being useful in combating some types of cancer.
The black raspberry grows very well in practically any temperate climate, and lends itself very well to being cultivated in small areas. The plant, with proper care, bears fruit in its second year, and will continue to bear fruit for many years to come.
The raspberry can be found growing wild in neglected fields, hedges, and thickets where it provides and important food and cover resource for wildlife. Even the sides of busy roadways can be found to be covered in this hearty and highly adaptable fruit shrub. Though the plants are very easy to find and harvest, the best tasting fruit, and the strongest and easiest plants to transplant are found can be found from high quality mail or internet order nurseries. These plants are generally more robust than their wild cousins and will provide sweeter and better tasting fruit without spreading as much as the wild varieties. If you are looking for great blackberry bushes you can get them at www.tnnursery.net .
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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