Weed Watch: Rubus species aka Blackberries

There are many species of Rubus that can be invasive the most common and present in our local area are the European Blackberry: Rubus fruiticosus ssp aggregate

The Blackberry is a large woody shrub that is incredibly invasive and spreads quickly, the fruit is a popular meal for birds, foxes and other mammals which means the seeds are dispersed widely there can be up to 80 seeds in one blackberry so it is important to remove plants before they fruit.

Methods of removal are Digging out, spraying with herbicide or cutting back to main stem as close to the ground as possible and then painting with herbicide.

Botanic Name: Rubus fruiticosus ssp aggregate

Common Name: Blackberry or European Blackberry

Origin: Europe

Flower Colour: White

Flowers: November – March

Photo Credit: Linda Sijpkes

Indigenous Lookalike:

Sometimes mistaken for Blackberry the Native Raspberry, Rubus parvifolius grows widely around the local area a distinct difference is the pink sometimes red flowers, the Native Raspberry also has a smaller leaf than the Invasive Blackberry.

Also sometimes referred to as Small leaf bramble, Rubus parvifolius grows aprox 0.6-2mH x 0.5-3mW and prefers well drained soil in a semi to fully shaded position

Botanic Name: Rubus parvifolius

Common Name: Small leaf Bramble, Native Raspberry

Origin: Australia

Flower Colour: Pink to Red

Flowers: October – February

Photo Credit: Linda Sijpkes