Rubus arcticus 'Mespi'

Arctic Raspberry Rosaceae

Small in stature but positively extravagant in flavour, Rubus arcticus ‘Mespi’ is a Finnish cultivar of the Arctic Raspberry, a circumpolar species of cool northern woodland, heath and open forest. It forms a low, spreading carpet of fresh green foliage, producing pretty pink flowers followed by small, deep red aggregate fruits with the remarkable perfume and sweet-tart flavour for which Arctic Raspberry is prized.

The berries are highly regarded in Scandinavia and northern Eurasia, where they are eaten fresh or made into jams, jellies, syrups, drinks and liqueurs. Their intensely aromatic flavour is quite extraordinary for such a diminutive plant.

‘Mespi’, like other cultivated Arctic Raspberries, is self-incompatible, so it needs pollen from a genetically different clone to set a good crop. Plant alongside another compatible R. arcticus cultivar—such as ‘Tarja’, ‘Marika’ or ‘Mesma’—and let bees and other pollinating insects handle the matchmaking.

Grow in sun or light shade in cool, humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil, preferably acidic to neutral. An excellent edible groundcover for woodland gardens, heath gardens and beneath acid-loving shrubs.

Height: 10–25cm
Spread: 40–60cm
Flowering: May–June
Fruiting: June–September
Hardiness: H5