Blackberry

Blackberries produce succulent fruit in summer on woody canes. Beware that the vigorous woody canes can become invasive if not pruned regularly. There are two distinct forms of blackberries -- trailing and erect. They may be thorny or thornless. Erect blackberries are hardy, stiff-caned plants. The trailing kind, also called dewberries, are tender and grown mainly in the South.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Fruit,Vine

Plant Height:

To 6 feet tall

Plant Width:

3 feet wide

Bloom Time:

Blooms in mid- to late spring.

Landscape Uses:

Beds & Borders

Top Varieties

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'Black Satin' blackberry

is a thornless, semitrailing blackberry with pleasing sweet, tart fruit. It has a vigorous fruit set on 2-year-old canes. Zones 6-9
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'Brazos' blackberry

is a thorny, erect blackberry that grows best in southern climates. The vigorous canes produce hundreds of large fruits best used in cooking due to their high acid content. Zones 7-9
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'Kiowa' blackberry

is known for its exceptionally large fruit. The erect, thorny plants are well-behaved and easy to grow as a hedge. Zones 5-9
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'Ollalie' blackberry

has large, firm, high-quality, sweet fruit. Commonly grown in Southern California, the thorny canes are trailing. Zones 8-10
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Harvest Tips

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Blackberries fruit the first year after planting. The fruit's green receptacle separates from the plant when the fruit is picked. The core should be small and soft.

Pick in the morning when fruits and plants are dry and cool. Watch out for bees before you reach in. Carry the berries in shallow trays because they are easily crushed. They also are highly perishable, so keep picked berries in the shade and move them to a cool location as soon as possible.

Propagation

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Stem Cuttings
Layering