About
A compact, hardy, deciduous, thornless shrub; a variety of blackberry ideal where space is of a premium and for pots, hanging baskets and containers. Pink flowers appear from April to May, followed by an early midsummer crop of juicy edible berries which turn from red to black, with a similar sweet-sour taste to a wild blackberry.
About the genus
Rubus can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, often scrambling with bristly or prickly stems bearing simple, lobed, palmate or pinnate leaves and 5-petalled flowers followed by juicy, sometimes edible fruits
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible
HabitClump forming, Suckering, Spreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Hanging basket, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any moisture-retentive, fertile soil in sun or partial shade. May have the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well. See blackberry cultivation for further advice
PruningOnce established, cut older fruited stems down to the ground once harvest is complete
PropagationPropagate by division or tip layering
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds and honey fungus (rarely)