How big does Blackberry grow?

About 2.5 m × 3 m after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Blackberry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Blackberry toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should Blackberry be planted?

Plant it at least 2 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Blackberry flower?

Flowering: May–September, white, pink.

How much water does Blackberry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Blackberry cost?

It sells for roughly €12 to €25 in local shops, depending on size.

Blackberry

Rubus fruticosus

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) is a fruit plant that reaches 2.5 m × 3 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €12.

Illustration of Blackberry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Blackberry is a vigorous fruiting plant with long arching canes that is best tied to wires or a fence. It is self-fertile, so one plant gives a generous crop from midsummer to early autumn, and it is not fussy about soil, limy ground included. Wild types and old thorny varieties are fiercely prickly and spread fast, so pick a thornless variety for the garden and cut out the canes that have fruited every year.

Watch out for

The thorny variety 'Himalaya' ('Theodor Reimers') is in fact Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus): extremely vigorous, it forms impenetrable thickets through root suckers, rooting cane tips and bird-sown seed. It is a banned invasive species in Switzerland, is on the German list of potentially invasive species, and escapes and spreads in Central Europe, the Carpathian Basin included, mainly around towns and in sandy habitats. Thornless garden varieties are far tamer, though their cane tips also root where they touch the soil. Canes of thornless varieties can be killed back in hard winters below about minus 15 to minus 20 °C. Blackberry rust, grey mould and the redberry mite, which leaves some drupelets red and hard, are common.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 2.5 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–September, white, pink

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	1.5–3 m × 2–8 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–September, white, pink
Harvest	July–September
Self-fertile	yes
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	at least 2 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	200 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	no data
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about €12

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
40-60 cm	approx. €19
45 cm	approx. €18
80-100 cm	approx. €25
size not stated	approx. €12 – €17

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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