Blackberry Types and Varieties

Selecting the Right Cultivar

There are generally few differences in the cultural needs of the many varieties of blackberries. Varieties differ in fruit size, flavor, and appearance. Types and varieties also ripen at different times, however, all types are self pollination, so only one cultivar or variety is needed for fruit production.

Cultivars differ in growth pattern (erect, semi-erect, and trailing) as well as the look and feel of the fruit. More about that topic can be read about in Grow blackberries right in your backyard. Factors such as the hardiness of the cultivar and general weather conditions should be considered. Generally the erect type is a more hardy and cold bearing variety.


Before you decide on a variety first consider the following:

• Type (trailing, erect, or semierect)

• Time of year it bears fruit

• Disease susceptibility

• Hardiness

• Thorny or thornless

• Fruit flavor, size, color, and texture

Erect Cultivars

(Type. Ripening timeframe; appearance)

Cherokee. Midseason; berries medium large, black, firm, excellent flavor; bushes vigorous, thorny

Cheyenne. Early; berries very large, firm, attractive, good flavor; bushes vigorous, moderately thorny, hardy.

Shawnee. Midseason; long fruiting season; berries very large, shiny black, medium firm, good flavor; bushes vigorous, thorny, very productive.


Trailing Cultivars

Black Satin. Midseason, earlier than Hull; berries large, skin black, loses glossiness at maturity, good flavor; bushes semierect, thornless, hardy, vigorous.

Boysen. Midseason; berries very large, deep maroon, rather soft, excellent distinct flavor; canes thorny.

Chehalem. Midseason; berries small to medium, bright black, very firm, excellent flavor.

Chester. Late; berries medium, black, good flavor; canes thornless, semierect.

Hull Thornless. Midseason to late; berries large, firm, good flavor and keeping quality; canes thornless, vigorous, productive; canes semierect, hardy.

Kotata. Midseason; berries large, glossy black, firm, good flavor; canes thorny, vigorous, productive.

Logan. Early; berries medium, long, dark red, soft, good flavor; thornless type available.

Marion. Midseason (early July to early August); berries large, bright black, medium firm, excellent flavor; plants produce fewer and longer canes than Boysenberry, thorny, productive.

Ollalie. Midseason; berries medium to large, bright black, firm, good shelf life; plants vigorous, productive, not hardy outside the coastal areas.

Silvan. Early to midseason; berries large, black, medium firm, excellent flavor; canes thorny, very productive.

Sunberry. Early; berries medium, dark red, poor to good flavor; canes thorny.

Tayberry. Early; berries large, medium red, soft, flavor distinctive, good; canes thorny.

Thornless Evergreen. Late (mid-August to mid-September); berries medium, dark black, firm, mild flavor; very productive; suckers from roots may be thorny.

Tummelberry. Early; berries medium to large, firm, poor to good flavor; canes thorny.

Waldo. Midseason (about 7 days later than Marion); berries medium, glossy black, firm, small drupelets, good, mild flavor; canes thornless, less vigorous than Marion (plant at 4 feet apart in the row), productive.

Young. Midseason; berries very large, dark red or maroon, very sweet, excellent flavor; superior to Logan for jam and freezing; canes are prone to winter injury in colder regions.


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