Blackberry- Rubus fruticosus 'Thornfree' - €6 per plant 

This Blackberry is a thornless cultivar yielding an abundance of juicy blackberries from July-Sep even under fruit trees in the semi-shade. The spring shoots are also edible and the leaves can be dried and used as a tea substitute. The plant is very attractive to bees and butterflies and being vigorous plant  provides a good amount of mulch material and/or animal fodder when pruning time comes around.   To order this plant please contact us [email protected]. 

Context

  • native region: Europe
  • native habitat: Parent plant very common and adaptable, found in hedgerows, woodland, meadows, waste ground etc
  • family: Rosaceae

Predators

  • Grey Mould-Botrytis cinerea
  • Fruit Anthracnose-Elsinoë veneta
  • Two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae)
  • Looper CaterpillarsEpiphyas postvittana
  • If grown in the open the berries are vulnerable to bird predation 
  • N.B We have had no problem with any pest or diseases with  our plants 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Semi-shade or  full sun 
  • soil pH:  Acid, neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9
  • Prefers well drained soil 
  • Mulch with compost  every spring for optimum yields
  • Water when dry in summer  
  • Annual pruning required for optimum productivity

Overview

  • Bare root - 2nd yr bush     
  • Deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m by 3 m at a fast rate.
  • In flower from May to September, and the seeds ripen from Jul to October. 
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects, Apomictic.
  • The plant is self-fertile. 
  • Noted for attracting wildlife. 
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
  • Can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. 
  • Prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
  • The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Characteristics

  • form: medium sized shrub
  • layer : Shrub Layer
  • habit: multi-stemmed, suckering roots  
  • height x width (m): 3 x 3
  • years to bearing fruit: 2-3 year  
  • productive life span: 15-20 years 

Products 

  • Fruit:  July-Sep. Great eaten fresh and made into pies and jams 
  • Yield: 3-5 kgs each summer at maturity
  • Leaves: dried leaves for tea making, 
  • Shoots: eaten raw when young , make good rabbit and goat fodder
  • Roots: can be boiled and eaten 
  • Flowers: nectary, attracting bees and butterflies 
  • Under-story ground cover 

Functions, behaviours

  • animal dispersed seed
  • leafs out in early spring 
  • drops leaves in late winter
  • easy to propagate by layering 
  • self pollinates
  • Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project