This robust shrub is displaying its attractive stems to maximum effect in the Winter Garden.
Rubus niveus (syn. R. pedunculosus) is a robust shrub from Asia, occurring from the Himalaya to western and central China. It has long, arching stems, and can reach over 2.5m in height and spreads by suckers to form a dense mass of thorny growth. In summer the stems bear leaves comprising three or five leaflets with a white lower surface, and produces small white flowers which bear edible red-black fruits. Though this bramble produces fruits it is grown for the stems which, when young, are a glossy, rich wine colour, and provide winter interest. In the garden this species requires plenty of space, regular removal of suckers to keep it in check, and annual thinning of older stems to encourage new shoots bearing the rich stem colour. This complex genus is distributed throughout the world and includes an estimated 1400 species.