Blackberry Shrub - Robus Genus

The Blackberry bush is a perennial shrub that grows in Zones 5-8. Some varieties will rapidly reach a height of up to 13 feet tall.

Blackberry bushes should be planted in the early spring in well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7. Although they do best in full sun, they can tolerate some shade. However, the bush will only produce fruit if it has enough shade.

Blackberry shrub  has dark green leaves with white fuzz covering them

It has 3-5 leaflets surrounding a thorny center ridge. The flower will appear in late spring to early summer. They will be white or pale pink with five petals. The flowers will appear on the tips of the canes. The flowers will give way to edible, sweet-tasting juicy berries with multiple drops.

The berries will start white. When the berries are ripe, they will be a deep purple. Even though it will not produce any fruit during its first year, the bush will grow berries for 15-20 years after that. Once the fruit has begun to ripen, you will want to go out and harvest your berries every few days to use them before the birds get to them. The Blackberry Bush  will grow thorny canes across the ground and grow as much as 40’ long. These canes will grow new roots wherever it touches the ground, producing a new bush. The canes will die off every winter but come back the following year.

Blackberries are an excellent source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K

A serving of 100 grams will have only 45 calories. Blackberries are often used in desserts, jams, seedless jellies, syrups, and wines. They are also a good food source for certain caterpillars, deer, red foxes, badgers, and other foraging animals.