There’s nothing quite like a good blackberry. Not the old-school phone, but the small, black, delicious berries that are great to eat on their own or in your favorite dessert. Even if you’re not a fan of their sweet and tart flavor combination, there’s still something to appreciate in their natural beauty. Not quite a bush, but not quite a tree, either, blackberries are a little something in between.
So, what does a blackberry bush look like? Is it a tree? A bush? Or something else entirely? Read on to find out.
What Is a Blackberry Bush?
A blackberry bush is a bush that grows blackberries. It may sound simple, right? However, the bush belongs to the Rubus genus, which covers up to 30 species of berries. Not only does this include the blackberry, but it’s also home to raspberries, dewberries, and many more.
While you’ll find them out in the wild in other regions, it’s native to Europe and North America and loves to grow in temperate climates that get six to eight hours of daily sun.
Typically, blackberry bushes grow as trailing vines or small shrubs, and for this reason, they look like a bunch of little branches grouped together. The berries from the bush, though, that’s where the magic happens. They can be eaten as is, made into jelly, or baked into desserts for the perfect balance of sweet and tartness.
So, What Does a Blackberry Bush Look Like?
Blackberry bushes can vary based on where they grow, the region, and even the type of blackberry plant. However, most blackberry bushes are a collection of trailing vines or an erect shrub. These branches tend to reach around eight feet in height, and if they’re close to other trees or bushes, you’ll find them using them for support.
Sprouting out from the branches, blackberry bushes tend to have three to five leaflets, which are shaped like eggs. These leaflets are also around two to four inches long, and they have sharp little teeth all along the leaves.
When you pair those little teeth with the thorns that shoot out from the canes, you have a plant that doesn’t really want you to touch it – and we get it, if we had berries that good, we wouldn’t want anyone snatching them, either.
In most cases, the blackberry bush will sprout the little blueberries we know and love from April to June.
What Does a Blackberry Look Like?
A blackberry is a similar-looking berry to every other berry in its genus, like the raspberry. It’s a small berry that looks like it has a cluster of other little berries all around it. Blackberries are named after their distinctive black color, which takes on a more glossy appearance when it’s time to harvest them.
Blackberries tend to grow in groups together on a stem, and they may even grow close to or near raspberries and other berries.
What Does a Blackberry Bush Look Like When It’s Ready for Harvest?
When it’s time for harvest, blackberry bushes have a distinctive appearance. You’ll find that it all comes down to what the berries look like. When they’re ready for harvest, blackberries will be a deep and glossy black.
Appearance aside, you’ll know they’re ready when the blackberry detaches from the stem with ease. Once you know when a blackberry is ready for harvest, you’ll have an idea of what the rest of the plant should look like as well.
What Does a Blackberry Bush Look Like? Our Final Thoughts
So, what does a blackberry bush look like? Overall, they look more like mini trees than anything else, and they typically have sprouting branches that can reach around eight to nine feet in height. Therefore, you’re basically looking at a collection of thin and tall branches that have a few little black fruits on them.
However, the way a blackberry bush looks will vary depending on your location because the branches may grow alongside or on top of something else. That said, if you plan on growing a blackberry bush of your own, make sure you get your hands on the best blackberry bushes from suppliers like this for the best results.
Otherwise, your plant may look frumpy or grow bad berries, and nobody wants that.
