Himalayan Blackberry - Identification, Description, Edible and Medicinal Uses!

Himalayan Blackberry - Rubus armeniacus
Himalayan blackberry is an introduced blackberry that can be found at low elevations from BC to California. It's edible and has some medicinal uses. Himalayan blackberries are also delicious! The blackberry fruit is often used for things like blackberry jam, blackberry syrup, eating fresh blackberries and more.
Introduction to Himalayan Blackberry
Himalayan blackberry is an introduced species, and it develops a deep woody root system and can take over an area forming thickets up to 5 m tall. Blackberries are related to raspberries, and they have similar edible and medicinal uses.
Identification of Himalayan Blackberry
Himalayan blackberries grow on a long sprawling stem with hooked prickles. Himalayan blackberry has a stout stem with 5 angled ridges. The leaves are sharply toothed with palm shaped leaflets. There are usually 5 leaflets on the first year canes and 3 leaflets on the flowering and fruiting second year canes. The leaves are hairless above and grayish white and wooly on the underside with a prickly midvein.
Himalayan Blackberries Are Edible
Himalayan blackberry jam and syrup are just two of the uses for blackberry fruit. Himalayan blackberries are nutrient dense and a good source of vitamins and minerals like vitamin c, k, manganese and high in antioxidants.
Indigenous groups traditionally gathered blackberries in large quantities, and blackberries were eaten fresh and stored. For storage of blackberry fruit, they were often dried or combined with other berries, oil and meat.
Himalayan Blackberries Have Medicinal Uses
The leaf tea of Himalayan blackberries has been used for sore throats, mouth sores, bleeding gums, dysentery, cholera and excessive menstruation. Blackberry root tea has also been used for the same purposes. Also the root and leaf tea have been used to treat diarrhea.
Distribution of Himalayan Blackberry
Himalayan blackberries can be found from southern BC to California. It often grows in disturbed areas, abandoned farms, ditches, roadsides, and it can be found at low elevations. Himalayan blackberries are introduced and can grow into huge thickets taking over an area. I will say you should not have any worries about harvesting them aggressively.
A Warning About Himalayan Blackberries
The leaf tea should only be used fresh or dry. Wilted leaves can be toxic. Also extended use of the tea can irritate the stomach and bowels.
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Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!
References
Kloos, Scott. Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants. Timber Press, Inc. 2017
MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.
Parish, R.; Coupe, R.; and Lloyd, D. Plants of the Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. 2018

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Here is the older video I mentioned in this one. It covers a bunch of other berries as well, so it might be interesting! kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4SsfKKInaiDers

[@RT3Creations-Learn]

Great video! I believe I have a thornless variety. So thankful!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you!

[@Lynzi3]

This time of year is one of my favorites because I loooooove to go pick blackberries!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

They're so good! Thank you!

[@chrisrageNJ]

I grow multiple varieties of rubus and other bramble berries, I've got around 7 or so different blackberries (gotta wait for them to flower to see what they are exactly), a couple different red raspberries, black raspberries, wineberries, and dewberries. I need to make more boxes and trellises because I want some salmonberries and some loganberries next

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

That sounds awesome!

[@tracycouture3955]

✌ great info

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you!

[@PreppingWithSarge]

somehow I am still getting blackberries (cultivated) here. We've had a few frosts too. I must have planted everbearing at some point and forgotten. Good vid, full support!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Thank you! We've got snow on the ground here now and pretty cold temperatures for November, so the berries are definitely all done. That's awesome you're still getting some fruit!

[@LH-zw7dg]

Yummy!!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

I agree! Thank you!

[@ozzy_fromhell]

Someone scammed me saying this a boysenberry and now i got a Himalayan blackberry in my backyard next to my regular shmegular baby cakes blackberries and i still gotta buy a boysenberry;(😂

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Oh no! Hopefully you get what you want soon!

[@emmalee478]

Those thorns look nasty!

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

They were! I've still got scratches. Thank you!

[@ozzy_fromhell]

Someone scammed me saying this a boysenberry and now i got a Himalayan blackberry in my backyard next to my regular shmegular baby cakes blackberries and i still gotta buy a boysenberry;(😂

[@OkanaganGardenerandForager]

Boysenberry sounds good!