PlantFiles: Himalayan Blackberry, Armenian Blackberry, Arizona Blackberry
Rubus armeniacus

Rubus armeniacus is native to SW Asia, but has naturalized in many areas throughout North America and Europe. It was originally brought to the U.S. as a crop because the berries are larger and firmer than many of our native Rubus, making them more marketable. They are still widely cultivated for their delicious berries.

They have become a problem in many states, and having naturalized along creeks and other open lands. They readily outcompete native Rubus species, so great care should be taken to contain them. They are difficult to erradicate because they are perennial and come back from the roots year after year. They also seem to be resistant to many herbicides.

Leaves are compound and usually composed of 5 leaflets, but occassionally three. Leaves are medium green above and glacous below, with prominent veins on the undersides of the leaves. Rose-like barbed thorns are present along all stems as well as along the central vein of the undersides of leaves.

An invasive, non-native plant that is brutally thorny, but also a sweet and delicous food crop for humans and animals alike.

If you are thinking of growing this plant at home for it's delicious berries, there are a number of native Rubus species with equally or more dilectable and plentiful fruit. While there are a large number of excellent native Rubus species, they are not often found in grocery stores simply because the fruit does hold up well during shipping. If grown for home use, this should not be a problem and I would strongly recommend looking into your native species!

Invasive exotic which should not be planted, as it destroys native habitat. To get rid of it requires cutting it to the ground or digging up and replanting with fast growing shrubs or trees. Himalayan blackberry grows slowly in the shade and loves water so it you can get some thing else growing to compete with it you can beat it. We found willow stakes economically did the trick-- remove the blackberry and then the willow shrubs can grow quickly and shade out the resprouting blackberry.

This is one of the most reviled invasive plants on the Pacific coast, but it's a classic example of "one person's weed is another person's useful, vigorous plant". Hardly anyone actually *plants* this plant anymore. It grows wild on roadsides, in hedges, and other places. It is enormously difficult to get rid of if that's what you need/want to do. It does not respond to glyphosate and merely chopping it to the ground won't work. I've heard that a combination of chopping everything out, digging it out, and solarizing it can work if done over and over again.

That said, the berries are delicious. I prefer then to any commercial cultivar I've tasted. I have felt lucky when I lived in rental properties that had this "weed" nearby. I used to make blackberry pie and blackberry cobbler regularly. I imagine it makes an appearance in hedges around here because it is wicked thorny, even for a blackberry. Many cities around here have a serious crime problem.

I think if you grow it in a container and keep an eye out for any shoots that might have been spread by birds and dig them up immediately, you'll be fine.