Thornless Boysenberry
The original Boysenberry: a Rubus (caneberry) hybrid of uncertain origin cultivated and promoted by Walter Knott (eventually Knotts Berry Farm) near Anaheim, California beginning in the 1920s and 30s. Large, juicy, delicious, sweet-tart berries famous for jams and pies. Also wonderful fresh, especially when picked just right and consumed within a day or two. Vine-like, trailing, thorny growth habit. Generally more productive than the thornless selection. Early harvest. Self-fruitful. Zones 5-10.
Essentials for Success
For flourishing plants, use potting soil for potted plants or planting mix for garden beds paired with Root Zone starter fertilizer is the perfect duo to foster robust root growth and minimize transplant shock.
Details
Edible Qualities
Boysenberry is a small shrub that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces clusters of redish black berries which are usually ready for picking from early summer to early fall. The berries have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.
The berries are most often used in the following ways:
- Fresh Eating
- Cooking
- Baking
- Preserves
Features
Boysenberry has green foliage throughout the season. The fuzzy oval compound leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. The flowers are not ornamentally significant. It features an abundance of magnificent redish black berries from early summer to early fall.
This is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep. Each spring, cut back all dead and two-year old canes to the ground, leaving only last year's growth standing. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:
- Suckering
- Disease
Aside from its primary use as an edible, Boysenberry is sutiable for the following landscape applications:
- Mass Planting
- Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
- Orchard/Edible Landscaping
Care
Planting & Growing
Boysenberry will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.
This shrub may not always play well with others; as such, it is best grown in its own designated garden space or isolated area of an edibles garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.
