Bramble vs Briar — You’ve heard the phrase “briar and bramble.” So what’s a bramble? It’s basically the blackberry bush — which is very common in Britain — although it can extend to any bush with thorns and berries.
And a briar? It’s any bush with thorns including the blackberry. The words may not be perfect synonyms but bramble is redundant when used with briar.
My favorite thorn bushes are roses.
Get yourself a Gertrude Jekyll bush. You won’t be sorry
Love all these little tidbits of knowledge!
It’s not as simple as you make out:
In England, “briar” and “bramble” are terms often used to describe thorny plants, but they have distinct meanings:
Briar typically refers to a thorny plant that belongs to the rose family. These plants often have woody stems and produce flowers. More specifically, briar refers to a thorny and woody plant that belongs to the genus Erica or Calluna, commonly found in heathlands, moors, and rocky areas. They are characterized by their tough and rigid stems that grow up to 2 meters in height, and they produce clusters of pink, white, or purple flowers in the summer months.
Bramble, on the other hand, is a term used to describe any thorny plant that grows in a tangled mass. This can include plants from a variety of different families, such as blackberries, raspberries, and some types of roses. Bramble is a term used to describe any thorny shrub belonging to the genus Rubus, which includes plants such as blackberries, raspberries, and dewberries. Brambles are characterized by their prickly stems that can grow up to 3 meters in length, and they produce white or pink flowers in the spring. Brambles are known for their edible fruit, which is often used in jams, pies, and other desserts.
In summary, while both briar and bramble refer to thorny plants, briar is more specific to plants in the rose family with woody stems and flowers, while bramble can refer to any thorny plant that grows in a tangled mass, including blackberries and raspberries.
Thank you, John.