Blackberry Cultivars for Oregon EC 1617 • Revised January 2014

Home , Loganberry, Marionberry, Rubus, Rubus armeniacus, Rubus ursinus, Tayberry

Chad E. Finn and Bernadine C. Strik

‘Marion’ (trailing)

here are three main types of blackberries from roots, so this type of blackberry is less invasive grown in Oregon: trailing, erect, and semierect. than many others. Plants need a trellis for support. TSeveral hybrids between raspberry and trailing Second-year canes, known as floricanes, produce blackberry have been developed, including ‘Logan’, fruit. In general, trailing blackberries produce berries ‘Tayberry’, and ‘Boysen’ blackberries. Since these that have a long shape; relatively small seeds; and grow like a trailing blackberry, they need to be man- highly aromatic, intense flavor. aged in the same way. In Oregon, fruit ripens from mid-June to August, This publication briefly describes each type of depending on the cultivar. The fruiting season for blackberry. Tables 1–5 list the primary cultivars in each cultivar lasts about 4 weeks. approximate order of ripening within each type. Trailing blackberries are considered the least Trailing Blackberries cold hardy of the three types of blackberries. Expect damage to buds and canes when temperatures drop The main species in the background of the trailing below about 13°F in December or early January. blackberry is Rubus ursinus, which is native along the Plants are even more sensitive to cold in late fall Pacific Coast from British Columbia to California, and late winter, when damage might occur at much and inland to Idaho. Trailing blackberries produce warmer temperatures (in the 20s). Trailing blackber- vigorous primocanes (first-year, vegetative canes) ries grow well west of the Cascades in Oregon and from the crown (base) of the plant. Primocanes trail southern Washington, although some damage might along the ground and may grow to 20 feet long. occur in particularly cold winters. Primocanes are produced only from the crown, not

Chad E. Finn, berry crops geneticist, USDA-ARS, Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Oregon; and Bernadine C. Strik, Extension berry crops professor, Oregon State University. Photos by Bernadine C. Strik, © Oregon State University, unless otherwise noted. summer to encourage branching and increase fruit production on the second-year floricanes. Erect blackberries produce fruit with relatively large seeds. Flavor and aroma are not considered as intense as in many of the trailing blackberry cultivars. Although many erect blackberries taste good, berries often have a “grassy,” “green,” or bitter flavor that some people don’t like. These berries are commonly grown for the fresh market, as the berries are firmer than those of most trailing types. In Oregon, ‘Columbia Star’ (trailing) fruit ripens from early July to August. A second species of trailing blackberry, Rubus Erect blackberry cultivars are listed in Table 3. laciniatus (the cutleaf or evergreen blackberry), was Primocane-Fruiting Erect Blackberries imported from Europe in the late 1800s. This species These blackberries produce fruit on the tips of the was once an important industry in Oregon but has primocanes or on primocane branches. This charac- now declined. ‘Evergreen’ and another introduced spe- teristic makes management easier, as the canes can be cies from Europe, ‘Himalaya’ (Rubus armeniacus, syn. cut to the ground in the dormant season, and fruit is R. procerus), have naturalized throughout much of the produced from September through October, depend- Pacific Northwest and are considered noxious weeds. ing on the climate. Tip primocanes in summer to Trailing blackberry cultivars are listed in Table 1. encourage branching. Blackberry/Red Raspberry Hybrids Primocane-fruiting blackberries will produce a These hybrids generally have been developed floricane crop the following year on the part of the unintentionally. Most have been found in plots or in cane that did not fruit the previous fall; however, we the wild where red raspberry has been grown with recommend growing these cultivars only for a fall R.ursinus blackberry. Despite their purple-to-red crop. See the OSU Extension publication Growing fruit color, they are technically blackberries because Blackberries in Your Home Garden (EC 1303) for the receptacle (white core) is part of the fruit when it more information. is picked. (In red raspberries, the receptacle stays on Primocane-fruiting erect blackberry cultivars are the plant.) listed in Table 4. These hybrids are considered trailing blackberries because of their growth habit. While ‘Boysen’ and Semierect Blackberries ‘Logan’ historically have been very important in the These plants are thornless and produce very vig- commercial industry, commercial acreage of these orous, thick, erect canes from the crown. The canes hybrids has declined steadily. ‘Tayberry’ is another grow up to 20 feet long and arch to the ground if left hybrid that is sold occasionally. unpruned. Primocanes are not commonly produced Blackberry/red raspberry hybrids are listed in from the roots. Prune primocanes in summer to Table 2. encourage branching and increase fruit production on the second-year floricanes. Canes require a trellis Erect Blackberries for support. These blackberries were developed from a very Semierect blackberries generally produce a higher different eastern native blackberry species. Erect yield than trailing or erect types. Fruit quality is blackberries produce stiff, upright canes that may similar to that of erect blackberries. In Oregon, fruit grow to 12 feet in Oregon, if left unpruned. Plants ripens from late July to early October, depending on can colonize an area by producing new primocanes the cultivar. The introduced weed ‘Himalaya’ has a (suckers) from the roots. Plants form a hedgerow and growth habit most similar to the semierect types. need a trellis for support. Prune or tip primocanes in Semierect blackberry cultivars are listed in Table 5.

2 Cultivar Table Notes Tables 1–5 list the primary cultivars of each type of blackberry. Not all of the listed cultivars are available in nurseries; however, these are included in the tables because plants are long lived, and established plantings of older cultivars still exist.

Fruit Descriptions and Yield Assessments of fruit quality, including flavor, are primarily based on results of trials by the used with permission. Finn, Chad E. USDA-ARS/OSU cooperative breeding program ‘Obsidian’ ‘Black Diamond’ at the OSU North Willamette Research and (trailing) (trailing) Extension Center in Aurora, Oregon, and on commercial grower experience. These traits, particularly flavor, can vary tremendously depending on location (because of differences in temperature and rainfall), cultural practice, and, of course, personal preference. Yield ratings are based on comparison to other cultivars of the same type.

Wholesale Fresh or Processed Commercial Value A commercial value score is provided to help commercial growers select appropriate cultivars for fresh and processed markets: 1 = Appropriate for most commercial operations 2 = May have commercial value but: (a) not enough is known about its performance or ‘Boysen’ (blackberry/red raspberry hybrid) (b) may meet a specific requirement (e.g., unique color or very early harvest) but What if you find a cultivar that’s not has a negative trait (e.g., low yield or poor on these lists? shipping quality) 3 = Unlikely to have good commercial value Find out as much about it as you can, such as its growth habit, hardiness, fruit characteristics, Small Farm, U-Pick, and Home disease susceptibility, and machine harvestability (commercial processed markets). Gardens Remember: If you purchase a cultivar that Cultivars that are well suited to small farms, is not on these lists, it probably has not been local sales, U-pick farms, and home gardens are extensively tested in Oregon. It’s best to try some noted as such. plants first and see how well the cultivar grows and how you like the fruit.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ better) (but Marion is Small farm or home garden (Table continues) (Table

Large-scale value commercial 1 1 2 (very soft and does not hold up in heat) 3 (not productive enough) 3 grown (was in commonly U-pick for California but sales, and fresh it is lower in Oregon yielding and more winter to sensitive injurycold than Marion) 1 2 fully new to (too but veryevaluate promising) √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Machine harvest Market but fresh Primarily well processes but fresh Primarily well processes Processed Processed but fresh Primarily well processes or processed Fresh or processed Fresh Yield high Very High high Very medium to Low medium to Low High High Fruit good size, Large black,firmness, fair flavor, excellent shape, very early ripening firm, Medium size, black, excellent shape, uniform very flavor, excellent early ripening soft, dark size, Large fair shape, purple, flavor excellent medium size, Small to excellent soft, purple, early ripening flavor, soft, Medium size, black, shape, lumpy early flavor, excellent ripening firm, black, size, Large very shape, uniform good flavor firm, size, Large very shape, uniform outstanding flavor quality and processing Plant vigorous, Very thorny thorny Vigorous, vigorous, Very thorny thorny Vigorous, vigorous, Very thorny thornless Vigorous, vigorous, Very thornless

Table 1. Trailing blackberry cultivars Trailing 1. Table Valley. Willamette Obsidian harvest of ripening. typically order starts of June in Oregon’s week in the third in approximate listed are Cultivars Cultivar Obsidian Metolius Silvan Cascade Olallie Black Diamond Star Columbia Plant (U.S. Patent pending)

4 √ √ √ Small farm or home garden

Large-scale value commercial 2 to be difficult (may market processed fresh but popular for market) 1 2 small fruit for (suited market) 2 fully new to (too but evaluate do well expected to market) in fresh 2 (nursery not plants available) √ √ √ √ √ Machine harvest Market or processed Fresh Processed Processed, particularly small fruit market Fresh Processed Yield Medium Medium high, to Low depending on of damage amount during cane training Medium High Fruit medium size, Small to dark good firmness, shape, uniform purple, flavor excellent soft, Medium size, uneven dark purple, flavor excellent shape, medium Small size, dark purple, firmness, very shape, uniform flavor excellent uniform Medium size, firm, black,shape, mild sweet, excellent flavor soft, black,Small size, mild but good flavor, August–September ripening season, mold gray to prone after fall rains

Plant very vigorous, Very thorny vigorous, Very thorny veryThornless, vigorous canes Thin easily, break so commercial should growers use alternate- production year or train systems canes very gently breakage. avoid to thorny, Vigorous, fairly upright a habit for growth blackberrytrailing thornless Vigorous,

Table 1. Trailing blackberry cultivars Trailing 1. Table Valley. Willamette Obsidian harvest of ripening. typically order starts of June in Oregon’s week in the third in approximate listed are Cultivars Cultivar Kotata Marion (often called marionberry) Treasure Wild Onyx Plant (U.S. Patent 22,358) Thornless Evergreen (a thornless and chimera) Everthornless (genetically thornless clone)

5 √ √ √ √ √ Small farm or home garden

Large-scale value commercial 2 3 niche (Successful been markets have but low developed, yield and difficulty of harvest make this nearly impossible to economically.) produce 2 fully new to (too evaluate) 3 1 √ √ √ Machine harvest Market Processed Processed Fresh Fresh Processed Yield to Low medium Low high Very Medium High Fruit like more Medium size, raspberry than blackberry red deep and flavor, in color excellent shape, conic color, tender skin,firmness but but distinctive flavor, excellent pick to hard reddish glossy, Medium size, good firmness but purple, but skin,tender excellent veryto hard unique tart flavor, pick, fruit damaged easily by hot weather glossy, blocky, size, Large dark purple purple, to reddish tougher skinfirmer and than but flavor, excellent Boysen, look, Boysen does not despite flavor Boysen have lumpy, medium size, Small to fair flavor purple, purple, soft, lumpy, size, Large unique and very good flavor

Plant thorny, vigor, Moderate to canes susceptible disease is Logan Thornless but it is not available, genetically thornless and canes. thorny will produce thornless vigor, Moderate thorny Vigorous, thornless Vigorous, thorny Vigorous,

Table 2. Blackberry/red raspberry hybrids Table of ripening. order in approximate listed are Cultivars Cultivar Logan (often called loganberry) Tayberry Newberry Boysen Thornless (This thornless is the color cultivar but of Boysen developed was and in California does not have of the the flavor Boysen.) original Boysen (often called boysenberry) very Boysen. are similar to Youngberry NectarberryNote: and

6 √ √ √ Small farm or home garden

Large-scale value commercial 2 2 (uneven performance in fields) commercial 2 fully new to (too evaluate) 3 3 (an option when too most grow to cold blackberries) 1 Machine harvest Market Fresh Fresh Fresh Fresh Fresh Fresh

Yield Medium (yield can vary year— to year from biennial bearing) Medium (yield can vary year— to year from biennial bearing) Medium Medium Medium Medium Fruit very to Large large very firm, black,size, picks easily, glossy, Can fair flavor. seedy, fruit set variable have fruit) (lumpy firm, Medium size, skin,tough attractive, round, black, glossy, sunburn (UV to prone damage), fair flavor medium Small to tough skin, firm, size, round, black, glossy, fair flavor tough firm, size, Large skin, black, glossy, seedy, lumpy, round, sunburn (UV to prone damage), fair flavor size, large Medium to soft, black, glossy, be bitter to tends medium Small to tough skin, firm, size, black, attractive, good round, glossy, well ships flavor, Plant thornless Vigorous, thornless Vigorous, thornless Vigorous, thornless Vigorous, very Vigorous, hardy cold thorny, vigor, Moderate thornless

Table 3. Erect blackberry cultivars Table of ripening. order in approximate listed are Cultivars Cultivar Natchez Plant (U.S. Patent 20,891) Ouachita Plant (U.S. Patent 17,162) Osage Plant (U.S. Patent pending) Apache Plant (U.S. Patent 11,865) Illini Hardy Navaho

7 √ √ √ Small farm or home garden

Large-scale value commercial 3 2 yield in short(limited season) 2 fully new to (too evaluate) Machine harvest Market Fresh Fresh Fresh

Yield Medium Medium Low in a (unless grown tunnel) Large to very to Large large firm, moderately size, skin,tender black, good seedy, glossy, season is from flavor, early to September first frost medium, Small to firm, moderately seedy, black, glossy, early season is from first September to frost Fruit soft size, Large medium-firm, to tender moderately skin, black, glossy, fair flavor, seedy, late season is from first frost to August Moderately Moderately to vigorous very vigorous, thorny thornless Vigorous, Plant very Vigorous, thorny

Prime-Ark 45 Plant (U.S. Patent 22,449) Prime-Ark Freedom Plant (U.S. Patent pending) Table 4. Primocane-fruiting erect blackberryTable cultivars of ripening. order in approximate listed are Cultivars Cultivar Prime-Jim Plant (U.S. Patent 16,989) and Prime-Jan Plant (U.S. Patent 15,788)

8 √ Small farm or home garden

Large-scale value commercial 1 2 soft ship well) (too to 1 shelf life) (limited 3 3 1 very(ships fresh well) Machine harvest Market Fresh Fresh Fresh Fresh Fresh Fresh Yield Medium Medium High Medium Medium Very high Fruit fair Medium size, attractive, firmness, oblong, black, glossy, sunburn (UV to prone damage), fair flavor fair Medium size, black,firmness, glossy, to prone round, sunburn (UV damage), fair flavor size, large Medium to attractive, fair firmness, round, black, glossy, to prone lumpy, sunburn (UV damage), berries can ripen good flavor unevenly, medium size, Small to black,fair firmness, lumpy, round, glossy, seeds, large noticeably fair flavor poor to medium size, Small to black,soft, attractive, to prone round, glossy, sunburn (UV damage), fair flavor medium Small to tough skin, firm, size, black, attractive, to prone round, glossy, sunburn (UV damage), susceptible fair flavor, berry red to mite Plant vigor, Moderate thornless thornless Vigorous, thornless Vigorous, thornless Vigorous, vigor, Moderate thornless thornless Vigorous, Table 5. Semierect blackberry cultivars Table of ripening. order in approximate listed are Cultivars Cultivar Ness Loch Hull Thornless Crown Triple Thornless Doyle’s Black Satin Thornless Chester

9 For More Information For more information on blackberry growth habit and management, see the OSU Extension publication Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden (EC 1303). Many other OSU Extension publications about fruit production and gardening are available online from the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog

‘Navaho’ (erect)

‘Triple Crown’ (semierect) Chad E. Finn, used with permission. Finn, Chad E. ‘Ouachita’ (erect) ‘Prime-Ark 45’ (primocane-fruiting erect)

Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only. This does not mean that the Oregon State University Extension Service either endorses these products and services or intends to discriminate against products and services not mentioned.

© 2014 Oregon State University. Extension work is a cooperative program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Published March 2008. Revised January 2014. 10