Latin name - Rubus fruticosus

Blackberries are native to temperate North America, as well as Europe and Asia.  They are neither a tree nor a bush, but are best described as a “bramble” due to their sprawling growth habit.  Blackberries often have thorns, but some varieties have been bred to be thornless, in particular the ‘Natchez’ Blackberry which has become our go-to.  Although Blackberries are pretty widely adaptable and can grow well into the tropics, they don’t always fruit reliably unless exposed to sufficient winter chill.  We have found ‘Natchez’ to be an outlier in South Florida, producing acceptable crops of fairly large berries even in years with a mild winter.

Naturally, Blackberry plants are found at the forest’s edge, thriving in areas of filtered sunlight.  They can also be adapted to full sun, provided the soil is decently fertile and there is ample water.  Blackberries grow via “canes” which shoot up from the ground and grow vegetatively the first year, then flower and produce berries the second year.  After fruiting, the canes die back and are replaced by new ones.  You can sometimes trick the plant into fruiting on a first-year cane by pruning it at just the right timing.

‘Natchez’ Blackberries make a wonderful addition to a Florida food forest, filling their own niche as a low-growing, semi-shade tolerant plant with bountiful spring and summer fruit.

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Size: 4’ wide x 4’ tall

Sun Requirements:  Full sun to partial shade

Cold Hardy: 20 degrees

Harvest Season:  Spring/Summer

Watering requirements: Water regularly, especially if planted in full sun

Food Forest Layer: Shrub