Worldwide, 237 species of blackberries are known. The most striking development for blackberry growers over the past 40 years has been the most thornless hybrids. Blackberries (Rubus spp.) Have become highly well known in the West, in which they could tolerate a wide variety of climactic conditions. Different cultivars span varying parts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone scale however, almost without exception, they will increase in USDA zones 8 and 9.

Taming Blackberries

Blackberry plants fall into one of two basic categories: erect or observation. Somewhat self-supporting, vertical types form a type of unruly bush with stiff and arching canes. Trailing varieties, which may quickly develop 12-foot canes, must be trellised by the second year. Both types offer numerous thornless options to the conventional, prickly brambles. Although blackberry plants can endure for many years, the person canes develop one year (primocanes), produce fruit the second season as floricanes, and subsequently die. Pruning is not necessary during the initial year, but elimination of the final year’s canes is likely to be required annually afterwards.

Erect Thornless Varieties

“Black Satin,” a notable thornless, mid-season blackberry, produces very large, sweet and hot fruit. Hardy and vigorous, it is also grown commercially. Yet another processing berry, “Chester” grows rapidly but ripens late, producing high yields of large, extra-sweet fruit. “Hull” has many of the very same attributes as “Chester” but bears fruit slightly sooner. Because blackberries are subject to many disorders, “Arapaho,” another prolific thornless variety, has a benefit by being immune to many of them.

Trailing Thornless Cultivars

Probably the most striking of this trailing varieties, “Triple Crown” is named for three stellar attributes: flavor, production and vigor. Each plant reputedly produces 30 pounds of berries per season. This improved version of “Chester” has been given top flavor ratings during field trials. “Thornless Evergreen” has since become among the most common commercial varieties. Its trailing vines bear high yields of mild-flavored berries late in the season. Disease-resistant “Doyle’s” fruit is generally processed for syrups, jams and wine-making. The vine may also be used in the landscape as a dense barrier.

Nutritional Contributions

Aside from the luscious flavor, blackberries, thorned or thornless, present many health advantages. A cup of blackberries contains a generous dose of vitamin E and also is a wonderful source of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese. The fruit dark pigment produces antioxidant chemicals, known as anthocyanins, thought to offer defense against cancer and heart disease along with other maladies. Blackberries have the highest concentration of the chemicals than any other fruit. To reap the benefits, you need to eat completely ripe berries, as those picked prematurely have less than half an hour of their anthocyanins of this ripe fruit. Blackberries go from glossy to dull once they ripen.

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