Blackberry Little Black Prince - Rubus fruticosus

The Little Black Prince Garden Blackberry is a dwarf and compact variety, which can be grown in a pot on a balcony or patio. It will reach a height of 1 m (3ft). It is a thornless variety, producing beautiful black fruits with a sweet flavour. Plant from autumn to spring for a harvest starting from mid-August.

The fruiting blackberry is a bush with long flexible branches, very hardy, capable of withstanding temperatures down to -25°C (-13°F). Its deciduous leaves are toothed and prickly. It flowers in spring and summer, with small white and pink flowers, which then turn into round berries. The blackberries can be eaten fresh right after harvesting or enjoyed in jams, jellies, ice creams, in pastries (pies, muffins...). Harvesting takes place in summer and early autumn. The fruits are ripe when they detach easily from their support. Although the varieties are self-fertile, it is recommended to plant at least 2 plants to improve fruiting by spacing them 2 m (7ft) apart.

This low-growing variety can be grown in pots, ideal for balconies and patios. You can combine it with other fruit plants to create a small edible hedge. It is a thornless variety, making picking easier.

The fruiting blackberry, producing the garden blackberry, is sometimes confused with the mulberry tree, which can grow up to 5 to 10 m (16 to 33ft) tall. The blackberry belongs to the Rosaceae family and the mulberry, whether white or black, belongs to the Moraceae family.