Rubus (spectabilis)

Lee Riley Horticulturist USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center 34963 Shoreview Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541-915-7324 541-767-5709 (fax) leriley@fs.fed.us

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Family Scientific Name:	Rosaceae
Family Common Name:	Rose
Scientific Name:	Rubus spectabilis
Common Name:	salmonberry
Species Code:	RUSP
Ecotype:	Siuslaw National Forest, Oregon; Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington
General Distribution:	Salmonberry grows in moist places and wetlands, and is especially abundant along streamsides and riparian areas at elevations below 1400 m. It can form dense thickets or grow individually. The range is from Alaska south to northwestern California, from the coast to the Cascades.
Known Invasiveness:	Salmonberry shrubs may become invasive once they are established
Propagation Goal:	Plants
Propagation Method:	Seed
ProductType:	Container (plug)
Stock Type:	444 ml (27 in3) container
Time To Grow:	18 weeks
Target Specifications:	Stock Type: Container seedling Root System: Firm plug in container.
Propagule Collection:	Collect the fruits when ripe (they are orange or red). Generally salmonberry fruits ripen from June through August, and can be collected by hand. Berries can be stored in a plastic bag at ~4 °C until extraction, within two weeks or so to prevent mold growth.
Propagule Processing:	Macerate berries thoroughly while still in plastic bag. Add water to bag to mix, and pour mixture in beaker. Add sufficient water. Water to berry mixture should be 3:1. Add pectinase (approximately 1 table spoon per liter) to volume and stir. Leave mixture at room temperature for 24 hours. Most seed should sink to bottom if filled and properly macerated initially. Pour off top layer of while gently mixing, or adding water from a faucet. Do not mix so violently that seed rises in the water column, but just enough that berry skin begins to float and pour off the non-seed debris. When seed is as clean as possible, pour wet seed onto paper towel and allow to dry. Pick out debris with tweezers. Dry to <38% RH. Store at 4 °C.
Pre-Planting Treatments:	Due to small seed size, the easiest method is to sow seed into trays filled with stabilized medium plugs (Q-plugs). Trays are sealed inside plastic bags and placed into refrigeration at 1 to 3 °C for 120 days. Trays are checked weekly and kept moist throughout the stratification period. If mold is evident, trays should be treated with 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:	Greenhouse growing facility. Q-plugs are lightly covered with nursery grit. Seedlings are transplanted to target containers approximately 3 weeks following removal from stratification. Growing medium used is 40:20:20:20 peat:composted fir bark:perlite:pumice with Apex controlled release fertilizer (16N:5P2O5:10K2O with minors; 6 to 7 month release rate at 21C) at the rate of 2 gram Apex per 444 ml container.
Establishment Phase:	Germination is fairly uniform and is usually complete in 2 weeks. Following germination (while still in Q-plugs), plants are fertilized with soluble 12-2-14-6Ca-3Mg at 75 to 100 ppm for 2 weeks.
Length of Establishment Phase:	2 to 3 weeks
Active Growth Phase:	Plants grow rapidly following establishment, and may need to be top-pruned or spaced apart in racks approximately 3 months following transplanting into the target container. Soluble fertilizer (20-9-20 NPK, 20-18-18 NPK, or 17-5-24 NPK) at 100 to 150 ppm is applied weekly throughout the growing season.
Length of Active Growth Phase:	15 weeks
Hardening Phase:	No dry-down is done to induce dormancy. Seedlings are moved to an outdoor growing area in early September.
Length of Hardening Phase:	2 to 3 weeks
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:	Harvest Date: Mid to late October Storage Conditions: Seedlings are usually outplanted in fall. No storage except in outdoor growing area. Plants are well irrigated prior to shipping and shipped in containers.
Other Comments:	Wetland classification: FAC These shrubs are good for stabilizing or restoring degraded sites, and for slope stabilization and erosion control.
References:	Dorena Genetic Resource Center Propagation Records, unpublished. Stevens M, Darris D. 2000. Plant guide: Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis Pursh. Corvallis (OR): USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Plant Materials Center. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_vame.pdf (accessed 10 Oct 2018). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Rubus spectabilis Pursh salmonberry. URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=RUSP (accessed 11 Oct 2018).

Citation:

Riley, Lee E.; Smith, Haley S.; Klocke, Allison. 2018. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Rubus spectabilis Plants 444 ml (27 in3) container; USDA FS - Dorena Genetic Resource Center Cottage Grove, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.