Blackberry Bush - Rubus fruticosus

Wild Blackberry Bush make a beautiful, natural fence or a great addition to an edible landscape or garden. With roughly 375 species, this perennial bush comes in thornless, trailing, erect, and semi-erect varieties. A single bush’s stem will take root and send out more stems in its first year, with multiple stems ranging from 9 to 19 feet. It will not produce flowers or fruit until the second year. Growers can train new growth to climb, prune them, or allow them to form a wild or tame bramble.

Wild Blackberry Bush

In its second year, a blackberry bush will produce 2-3 cm in diameter white or pink flowers on its stems. This adds interest and a lovely fragrance in late spring to early summer. Shortly after blooms fall, the bushes produce small, bumpy berries that begin green, gradually change to red, and finally black. Once mature, pick the fully dark, ripened berries every 2-3 days.

A single bush can produce berries for 15-20 years. Growers can consume fresh berries, freeze them, or preserve them in numerous ways to enjoy them year-round.

Blackberry bushes thrive in full sun but tolerate a little shade. Good draining soil is also necessary; they prefer acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7. They are perfect for growing zones 5 through 10, and new bushes do best with early spring planting.

Trimmed or unkempt, blackberry bushes add visual interest and provide habitats and food for wildlife. Birds especially love the berries, but deer prefer the leaves. Flowers and fallen fruits also attract bees, which are necessary for pollination. Blackberry bushes will require yearly pruning in the winter to remove dead growth, retrain, and cut any unruly branches. Prickle or thorn varieties require additional care when trimming to protect the grower and clothing.