Blackberry care: erect vs trailing

Blackberries belong to the *Rubus* genus along with raspberries, but they differ in an important botanical detail: unlike raspberries, the central core (receptacle) remains attached to the fruit when picked -- the berry pulls off the cane with the core inside, which is what makes a blackberry black.

Blackberries belong to the Rubus genus along with raspberries, but they differ in an important botanical detail: unlike raspberries, the central core (receptacle) remains attached to the fruit when picked — the berry pulls off the cane with the core inside, which is what makes a blackberry black and solid-cored while a raspberry is hollow. This distinction matters less than the growth habit, which determines all management decisions.

Per Penn State Extension, blackberries are classified into three growth types:

• Erect: Stiff, upright canes that need minimal support; most cold-hardy; native Eastern species types
• Semi-erect: More vigorous, partially arching canes; very productive; need a simple trellis
• Trailing (dewberries): Long, flexible canes requiring a trellis; best flavor in many cultivars; less cold-hardy; the blackberry type of the Pacific Northwest

I don't grow blackberries at my Melville plot. Deer pressure is significant. This guide is sourced from Penn State, Cornell, and Clemson Extension.

Types and cold hardiness

Per Penn State Extension:

Erect blackberries:

• Zones 5-9
• Canes grow upright; thorny or thornless
• Spread by root suckers (like red raspberry) and are somewhat aggressive
• Can be grown without a trellis but benefit from a simple support
• Examples: Illini Hardy, Prime-Ark Traveler, Triple Crown (thornless semi-erect)

Semi-erect blackberries:

• Zones 5-9
• Large, very productive plants; arching canes reaching 10-12 feet
• Require a trellis with two or three wires at 3 and 5 feet height
• Generally thornless
• Examples: Chester, Triple Crown, Loch Ness

Trailing blackberries (dewberries):

• Zones 7-9 primarily; less cold-hardy
• Long, flexible canes must be tied to trellis; cannot support themselves
• Best flavor of the three types
• Require more management: training canes onto trellis after growth begins
• Examples: Marionberry, Thornless Evergreen, Boysenberry