About
Rubus squarrosus, the leafless lawyer, is an unusual evergreen shrub forming a mound of tangled, green, prickly stems to about 50 cm tall with leaf blades so reduced as to appear almost leafless. Small, yellowish flowers are produced in summer, occasionally followed by orange-red fruit. A striking, architectural botanical curiosity for a sunny, well-drained garden.
About the genus
Rubus, the brambles, raspberries and dewberries, are deciduous or evergreen shrubs, often scrambling, with bristly or prickly stems bearing simple, lobed, palmate or pinnate leaves and five-petalled flowers followed by juicy, sometimes edible fruits. A diverse genus including many ornamental and fruiting species.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Native toNew Zealand
Care notes
CultivationEasily grown in a well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Unlikely to produce flowers if grown in full sun
PruningPruning group 1 if required
PropagationPropagate by seed, by semi-ripe cuttings or by tip layering in autumn
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds and honey fungus (rarely)