Rubus thibetanus Silver Fern

Rubus thibetanus Silver Fern is an ornamental bramble of great beauty, native to the Chinese and Tibetan mountains, with rapid growth and vigor that make it more suitable for slightly wild areas of the garden. But how can one resist its somewhat ghostly silhouette in winter, made up of interlacing white branches that can reach 2m (7ft) in all directions? Its astonishing silver-green fern-like foliage with a white underside is adorned in summer with small pink flowers, soon followed by small black edible fruits that delight birds in autumn. A spectacular and easy-to-grow plant, whose branches stand out against a neutral backdrop, such as a brick wall, stones, or an evergreen hedge.

The 'Silver Fern' bushy Bramble belongs to the rose family. This is a beautiful improvement of Rubus thibetanus, native to the mountains of western China (up to 3900m (12800ft) altitude), brought to Europe in 1904 by the British explorer Ernest Wilson. A plant, established in good garden soil, will occupy a space of 2m (7ft) in all directions within 2 years, forming a large bush with a slightly weeping habit. The stems, initially erect then trailing, are brownish-purple when young, sprinkled with some red prickles adding a touch of colour to the whole. These branches are then covered with a particularly decorative white-silver coating, very noticeable in winter when the plant is bare. Its 20cm (8in) long leaves, deeply veined and toothed at the edges, have a silver-grey green surface and a lighter, almost white underside. In July-August, clusters of pink flowers appear in the axils of the leaves. In September, some deep-red to black berries appear. Rubus thibetanus has suckering roots, which need to be controlled. It is better suited to slightly wild spaces or large gardens.

Plant the 'Silver Fern' ornamental Bramble in any deep and well-worked soil, this plant has low pH requirements. This bush will thrive in partial shade or in the sun, but in a non-burning exposure. Give it space at the boundaries of the garden, it will decorate a wild corner populated with sturdy shrubs such as Elaeagnus ebbingei, boxwood, yews, viburnum lantana, and purple hazel, for example. Planted at the edge of a porch or nestled against a stone staircase, it will play the same role as a large fern, with much fewer requirements. In front of a tall hedge bordering a pathway or in a bed it can be combined with other shrubs with decorative bark such as blood-red or white dogwoods, or conifers like Juniperus x media or the ghostly Juniperus communis Horstmann.