Blackberry, Raspberry, &Boysenberry
Rubus spp.
Family: Rosaceae
Rubus is a large and diverse genus with 1,732 species, commonly known as brambles and they include the blackberries, raspberries, and boysenberries we love to eat. They are surprisingly easy to grow in Arizona. We have several species of Rubus growing in our own mountains. Their fruits are much less significant than the domesticated varieties, but are nonetheless edible.
Based on phenotypic diversity, it is thought that Rubus originated in southwestern China. Pliny the Elder (AD 45) wrote about the people of Troy gathering “ida fruits” (red raspberries) at the base of Mount Ida in what is now Turkey. Although there are species native to most temperate regions, they are also found from the sub-tropics to Arctic regions and can grow from sea level to almost 15,000’ in elevation.
DESCRIPTION
Brambles live up to their name. They aren’t vines, but they are grown like vines, due to their long, arching stems (referred to as “canes”) that can reach quite a distance, and can reroot where they are held to moist soil. The canes fall into four groups based on whether they are thorny or thornless, and erect or trailing. Erect canes are somewhat self-supporting while trailing canes need to be trellised. The first year canes (primocanes) tend to produce leaves with no flowers or fruit. Second year canes (floricanes), tend to produce flowers and fruit on their lateral branches. Plants are generally deciduous, though in our warm winters in the low desert plants may seem reluctant to shed all their leaves.
Anne Raspberry Has large sweet yellow fruit, bears summer into fall.
Bababerry/Baba Raspberry Has extra large red fruit, two crops.
Boysenberry Thornless This plant has trailing canes needing support, very large, fragile, purple fruit, few seeds, USDA zones 5-10.
Kiowa Blackberry The largest and possibly thorniest of the U of Arkansas introductions. 3" long, firm and highly flavored. Fruits for 6 weeks. Upright growth requires no support. Very adaptable.
Natchez Thornless Blackberry Widely adapted, thornless vine with large, very flavorful berries. Early season harvest. Vigorous, semi-erect plant, some support required. Pinch out growing tips if necessary to control vigor. No particular disease problems.
Navaho Blackberry Has erect canes, thornless, small to medium sized, sweeter fruit with smaller seeds, very heat and relatively drought tolerant.
Triple Crown Blackberry Has semi-trailing canes, thornless, medium-sized fruit, very productive.
USES & PRESERVATION
When you grow berries like this at home, it is difficult not to just eat them. And warning, you will be ruined—the flavor of store-bought berries pales to the flavor of fresh off-the-plant berries. So most often, you will probably use them fresh.
However, as your plant gets larger and produces more, you may need to get more creative. These berries can also be made into preserves, syrups, or frozen.
Here is a list of 45 recipes to help you get creative with your harvest of berries.
GROWING
Rubus species mostly need space, and in the summer afternoon shade is a good idea. Plant in well-amended soil and mulch plants well.
Water twice a week in summer, deeply. Water once a week in the spring and fall. Water about every two weeks in winter. Feed 2-3 times a year, starting in February.
In the summer, using pruning shears, trim off the last 4" of primocanes to encourage side branching and more flowers. After harvest, cut the second year canes that have just produced fruit to the ground.
Keep weeds pulled, as blackberries resent having to share.
Plants can be grown in containers, just beware that you will need to guide and attach long arching canes to stakes, a trellis, or other substrate.