Will Blackberries Grow From Seeds?

Identification

• In the botanical world, the Himalayan blackberry is called Rubus discolor. It is a thorny perennial that produces vine-like canes that can grow up to 30 feet in length. It thrives in sunny areas, especially along creeks and rivers, which provide it with the water it needs to produce thousands of plump berries. Hybrid blackberry varieties are available at nurseries---these types do not spread as rampantly as Himalayan blackberries and are recommended for home gardens.

Starting by Seed

• If you want to start more blackberry bushes you can collect seeds from the ripe fruit in summertime. But first determine whether the plant you are harvesting is a Himalayan blackberry or a hybrid species. If it is the wild Himalayan blackberry, the seeds will create a new blackberry plant that has the same characteristics as the parent plant. If the plant providing the seeds is a hybrid, you can germinate these seeds as well, but do not expect the resulting plants to be exactly like the parent plant.

How Seeds Spread

• Because the Himalayan blackberry is considered invasive, it expands its range by both its spreading habit as well as with the help of birds, beavers, squirrels, opossums, voles, mice, skunks, bears, foxes and raccoons. When one of these animals eats a blackberry, its many seeds often are passed through its digestive system and later deposited in the animal's feces, where they can begin a new blackberry patch. If you make jelly with this blackberry, the seeds you dispose of in your compost pile also can sprout and grow into new bushes.

Starting by Runners

• Another way to propagate blackberries is by taking a root division. This way, you will end up with an exact duplicate of the original plant. Before you start your project, put on sturdy gloves to protect your hands from the blackberry's thorns. Dig up a clump of roots with one or two canes attached and then place it in a pot with rich potting mix and water thoroughly. You can transplant it into your garden in about one month, or when the plant shows signs of new growth.

Recommended Varieties

• If you want to grow a noninvasive blackberry, purchase a plant at your nursery to make certain you won't contribute to the Himalayan blackberry's spread. Native blackberries exist: for example, in California the Rubus ursinus is similar to the Himalayan but does not present an invasiveness problem. For nonspreading plants that remain a manageable size, the hybrid varieties Prime Jim and Prime Jan are noninvasive and produce small crops of good fruit.