Tayberry - Rubus fruticosus x ideaus -  €8 per plant 

Tayberry is a cross between a Blackberry and a Raspberry and named after the River Tay in Scotland, where it was first bred by the Scottish Crop Research Institute. It is an incredible blend - the fruit is the size of a big raspberry with the sweetness and juiciness of a blackberry, but helpfully does not spread as profusely as the blackberry. Tayberries produce consistently higher yields than Loganberries and the fruit is large - sometimes up to 5 cm in length.  The fruit is at its best when it has matured to a purple red colour and can  eaten straight from the plant but also lends itself well to being cooked, frozen and for making jam. To order this plant please contact us [email protected]. 

Context

  • native region: Europe
  • native habitat: 
  • family: Rosaceae

Pests and Predators

  • ​Raspberry beetle
  • Raspberry leaf and bud mite 
  • Raspberry spur blight 
  • Raspberry cane blight, 
  • 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: 4 - 7
  • 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, approx. 40 - 80 cm tall canes  
  • Deciduous Shrub growing to 2 m by 1.5 m at a fast rate
  • In flower from May to September, and the seeds ripen from June to October. 
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees.
  • The plant is self-fertile. 
  • 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 semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. 

Characteristics

  • form: medium sized shrub
  • layer : Shrub Layer
  • habit: multi-stemmed, suckering roots  
  • height x width (m): 2 x 1.5
  • years to bearing fruit: 1 year  
  • productive life span: 10+ years 

Products 

  • Fruit:  August- Oct . Great eaten fresh and made into pies and jams 
  • Leaves: dried leaves for tea making, 
  • Shoots: eaten raw when young , make good rabbit and goat fodder
  • Roots: can be boiled and eaten 
  • Flowers: pollinated by bees. 

Functions, behaviours



  • Plants send out new shoots from underground stems called stolons. These can be dug up and transplanted.
  • Summer-fruiting raspberries, which are ready for harvesting in early summer are also available.
  • 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