PLANT OF THE WEEK Scientific Name: Rubus parvifolia Common Name:Native raspberry Native Habitat: found mainly along the east coast in rainforest or coast heath communities. Description:A scrambling vine or shrub the shoots from underground rhizomes with hooked thorns to help it climb.  Height-Width: 2 x 2 m Flowering: December to April Fruiting:Juicy fruit produced in clusters. Position: Full sun or part shade. Attributes: Dry tolerant once established.   Rubus parvifolia Not all fruiting vines or canes come from the northern hemisphere, Australia has quite a lot of its own. These plants have similar fruits and are easier to grow than there northern counterparts so why are we growing them more?  My experience is observing one such plant in Sydney Botanic gardens, scrambling on a stream bank near the Palm House. This plant is part of the native garden along with banksias, grass trees, lomandras, carpobrotus and many others, including a peppermint gum. The habit of rubus species is to keep suckering and spreading, much like the non-native blackberry bushes, so take care where exactly you plant it in your garden. Listen to the podcast to find out more. I'm talking with horticulturist and native plant afficionado, Adrian O’Malley  PLAY : Rubus parvifolius_25th August 2021