Sawtooth Blackberry

Biological Name:

Rubus argutus (Sawtooth-Blackberry)

Natural Habitat:

Sawtooth-Blackberry: Woodlands, North America

Description:

Sawtooth-Blackberry also known as Rubus is a plant that is native to forested and riparian areas of North America. It is a perennial shrub that can grow up to six feet tall and it has large serrated leaves and small white or pink flowers that bloom in the spring. The plant is known for its edible fruit which are dark purple or black in color and have a sweet juicy flesh.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are Sawtooth blackberries edible?
A: Description. Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) is a perennial bramble native to the United States that produces edible blackberries. It is one of many species of blackberries. The leaves of this bush can also be used to make blackberry tea, a popular drink in some regions.
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Q: When should you not eat blackberries?
A: But the rule against eating blackberries after September 29 comes not from seasonality but from the story of the Archangel Michael, for whom the day is named. Michael, the greatest of all angels, defeated the angel Lucifer in a huge battle and banished him from heaven, the lore goes.
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Q: Which type of blackberry is the sweetest?
A: Berries from a Navaho thornless blackberry plant are the sweetest of the University of Arkansas’ varieties, with a sugar content of 11.7. Navaho ripens later than both Apache and Arapaho thornless blackberries.
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Q: What is the best eating blackberry?
A: Jim rates Navaho as the best-tasting new blackberry. Arapaho runs a close second, but it ripens earlier and has smaller seeds. Kiowa, a thorny, upright type, may very well be the biggest blackberry in the world.
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Q: How can you tell if wild blackberries are poisonous?
A: ”
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Q: Are the worms in wild blackberries harmful?
A: Tiny white worms, almost transparent, that will ultimately blossom into fruit flies — unless you eat them first. Scientists know them as Drosophila suzukii. Before we go on, we should tell you to stop gagging, because they are safe to eat.
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Q: Where is sawtooth blackberry native?
A: R. argutus, commonly known as the sawtooth blackberry, is native to central and eastern USA and has been introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, Chile (Markin et al., 1992), New Zealand (USDA-ARS, 2012) and Japan (Mito and Uesugi, 2004).
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Q: What is the sweetest variety of blackberry?
A: Berries from a Navaho thornless blackberry plant are the sweetest of the University of Arkansas’ varieties, with a sugar content of 11.7. Navaho ripens later than both Apache and Arapaho thornless blackberries.
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Q: Are there any poisonous blackberry look alikes?
A: Blackberries have no poisonous look-alikes; in fact, the only close look-alike is the wild black raspberry, which is smaller, sweeter, and hollow, like a thimble, when you pick it. Blackberries are larger and the core of the fruit is solid when you pick it.
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Q: Do I need a trellis for Navaho blackberries?
A: The Navaho Blackberry is a thorn-less variety that is upright, meaning it does not need a trellis to grow on. The Navaho Blackberry Plant produces huge tasty berries in large clusters, and a handful of these delicious thorn-less blackberries will thrill your family and neighbor.
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Q: Is thornless blackberry invasive?
A: Blackberry is considered a serious environmental threat and is highly invasive.
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Q: How invasive are blackberry bushes?
A: They form impenetrable thickets that overrun more desirable native plants and block access by livestock, wildlife, and humans. Invasive blackberries are very difficult to eradicate. Even a small piece of stem or rhizome left in the soil can result in a new plant and, over time, a new thicket.
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Q: Is huckleberry and blackberry the same?
A: The two fruits differ in much the same way as the so-called wild Himalayan blackberry, Rubus armeniacus, a naturalized weed, differs from the native wild blackberry, R. ursinus, dew berry, or trailing blackberry. Blueberries and huckleberries are fruits of shrubs in the genus Vaccinium in the Heath family Ericaceae.
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Q: How do you grow a sawtooth blackberry?
A: Blackberries prefer loamy, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, and thrive in a full sun location with six to eight hours of direct sunshine. Their average height and spread varies widely, but in general, you’ll need to place each plant about three to five feet apart if you plan to grow more than one.
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Q: Do you need two blackberry bushes to get fruit?
A: Blackberries and their hybrids are all self-fertile, so multiple plants are not needed for fruit production.
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Q: Can you plant just one blackberry bush?
A: The large, sweet berries do require some support and they are the least winter hardy of the cultivars. Each type is self-fruitful, meaning only one plant is necessary to set fruit. Now that you’ve made your choice, it’s time to learn how to grow blackberries.
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Q: How many years will a blackberry plant produce?
A: Blackberries are biennials and begin bearing the year after planting. The first year they can bear 2,000 pounds per acre, or about 8 gallons per 100 feet of row. Plants may produce for 15 years if managed; but, the best production is usually during years 3 through 8.
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Q: How many years does it take for a blackberry bush to produce?
A: Primocane blackberries: It usually takes about three years from planting to have a full crop of blackberries, but with primocanes, you can have production on first- and second-year canes. Some primocanes (also called everbearing) can have a second harvest late in the season.
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Q: What is the sweetest blackberry plant?
A: Navaho Thornless Blackberries Berries from a Navaho thornless blackberry plant are the sweetest of the University of Arkansas’ varieties, with a sugar content of 11.7. Navaho ripens later than both Apache and Arapaho thornless blackberries. It is resistant to double blossom but can fall victim to orange rust.
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Q: What is the best type of blackberry to grow?
A: Arapaho and Navaho are thornless, grow well as far south as northern Florida, produce upright canes for easy picking, and show good disease resistance. These and other thornless selections don’t spread as aggressively as thorny types. Jim rates Navaho as the best-tasting new blackberry.
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Q: What is Southern Dewberry?
A: Rubus trivialis, also know as Southern dewberry, is a native, evergreen perennial shrub in the Roseaceae family. It grows in the wet sites of bogs or swamps. It will grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils and prefers well-drained moist soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
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Q: Which is sweeter blackberries or dewberries?
A: Dewberries are smaller than blackberries even though they are similar in shape and color. Southern dewberries are more likely to ripen in the late spring, while common blackberries ripen during the summer. Dewberries are more tart-tasting than blackberries. Their trailing vine sprawls lower to the ground as well.
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Q: Can humans eat dewberries?
A: Dewberries are found throughout North America and northern Europe. They bear edible fruits that can be eaten raw or baked into cobblers or pies or made into preserves. They are occasionally cultivated but can spread rapidly and are considered to be weeds in many areas.
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Q: Do dewberries and blackberries taste the same?
A: In fact, the taste of dewberries and blackberries is indistinguishable; however, experienced berry pickers can tell the two plants apart since dewberries usually ripen first, and they tend to grow on floppy vines that stay relatively low to the ground, usually below waist level.
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Q: Are dewberries and black raspberries the same?
A: The smooth dewberry has similar preferences to the black raspberry. It prefers fields, forest clearings, thickets and streambanks. Black dewberry plants have weaker stems and grow closer to the ground than black raspberries and blackberries.
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Q: What do dewberries taste like?
A: Dewberries. Flavor: Comparable to wild blackberry, tart and intense. Season: Late June through July. Uses: Pie, cobbler, or a syrup for drinks.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.