Purple Raspberry Varieties

Purple Raspberries

• Red raspberries are generally the most cold hardy, but purple types -- hybrids of red and black raspberries -- are nearly as hardy, which makes them good choices also for berry growers in colder climates. In growth habit, however, purple raspberries are more like black raspberries, with arching canes and large, aromatic berries. Characteristics such as large size, good flavor and deep, rich color make them attractive for backyard, small-scale and you-pick local growers. Purple raspberries are heavy producers too. According to the Indiana Berry & Plant Co., at least east of the Rockies, both of the top purple raspberry varieties out-produce red raspberries by at least 25 percent.

Brandywine

• Developed by Cornell University and introduced in 1976, Brandywine is hardy from Zones 4 through Zone 8. Plants are grown in hills and do not sucker, which makes them less invasive than red raspberries. Large berries ripen mid-season and are glossy purple-red, good flavored, very aromatic and tart -- good for pies, jams, preserves and dessert sauces -- though the purple becomes a rich red during cooking. Brandywine is also widely used for making wine and spirits.

Royalty

• Also developed by Cornell University and sweeter than Brandywine, Royalty offers growers two possible picking stages. When its large, firm berries are red or just tinged with purple, they are sweet enough for eating fresh, with a light but full red raspberry flavor and aroma. Wait a little longer, and berries will get a bit "overripe," darkening to deep purple, almost as dark as a black raspberry with a stronger, sweeter flavor -- not sour or soapy. At both stages fruit is high quality --larger than Brandywine -- and good for eating fresh. Royalty also freezes well and makes good jams and jellies. Its strong raspberry aroma survives processing. Resistant to various insect pests, Royalty is hardy from Zones 4 to Zone 8.

Other Purple Raspberries

• Winter hardy to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit, so suited to some cold climates, Success is a heavy-producing purple raspberry developed by the University of New Hampshire. Fruits are small to medium size with a delicious flavor. Estate, developed by the University of Minnesota, is fairly cold hardy and produces large, round berries, actually more red than purple. In addition to Brandywine, Sunset magazine suggests Sodus as a good purple raspberry cultivar, a vigorous plant producing richly flavored berries "excellent in pies."