Blackberry delight

When I think of summer, I think of blackberries. There is such satisfaction in standing in the sun, picking and eating fruit you have grown at home or found on the trails. Florida gives us both opportunities because blackberries are both native and cultivated in our state, creeping through our backyards, neighborhood parks, and preserves — giving us fruit in the summer months. There is nothing like a homemade blackberry pie, fresh cold berries, or blackberry ice cream! 

There are over 375 native varieties of blackberries in the Northern Hemisphere, across America, Asia, and Europe. Native varieties grow in temperate zones all around the world; in our area some include the sand blackberry and sawtooth blackberry. The native varieties are mostly trailing, growing close to the ground. They are everywhere in Florida; their size and productivity depend on how much water and sun they receive. Many times, you walk over them and don’t even notice.

Cultivated blackberries come in over 1,000 varieties, and include varieties like Rufus Ursinus, which is thornless. Cultivation of blackberries is popular in the United States, Europe, Iran, and Armenia. 

An infamous variety that has invaded the world as a destructive non-native intruder is called the Himalayan blackberry. This variety is actually from Iran and Armenia and is a truly grand specimen with hedges standing 12 feet tall and vertical vines sprawling 30 feet. Although this is an impressive blackberry bush, it has caused many problems worldwide. This plant is aggressive, takes over creek beds, and outcompetes its plant neighbors, causing problems in many parts of the United States. In the Pacific Northwest, with so much water available, it reaches Jurassic size. In the state of Florida, the Himalayan blackberry is a Category 1 Noxious Weed, and is strictly prohibited in the state.

Blackberries offer us a feast, but at a price. The thorns on blackberry bushes are notoriously painful; despite how delicious the fruit tastes, the plant is protected. These thorns are in contrast to the gentle and beautiful flowers. The flower of a blackberry is delicate with intricate details; the petals reveal some pink and the delicate stigma and anther are full of pollen. 

I know the blackberry plant well because last summer I spent weeks using it as a subject to practice painting. At the time, I was surrounded by a six-foot fence supporting an 8-10-square-foot blackberry hedge. I picked blackberries twice a day for two weeks, and at the same time, I was trying to capture the blackberry in paint.

Suddenly, I was seeing every detail of the blackberry bushes: stem texture, leaves, flowers, thorns, berry clusters of different colors and maturation; green, white, pink, fuchsia, red, deep purple, and black. I was looking closer. What a gift when that happens. This amazing specimen stood in front of me to share its bounty, and we were passing time together. I collected many berries, ate most, saved and shared some.

In the south, blackberry bushes flower in early spring and berries start forming in late spring and summer, but in more northern latitudes, the berry harvest may not begin until August. In Florida, the University of Florida IFSA Extension recommends people grow cultivators like Prime-A Freedom or Ouachita, specifically bred to thrive in Florida’s climate. 

Blackberries seem as old as time, weaving their way through so many generations of recipes and people. I can also imagine blackberries being an incredibly refreshing survival food for humans in antiquity. Many humans over thousands of years have experienced the different faces of the blackberry bush, and some of us a lifetime of blackberry pies. Fortunately, blackberries help regulate gut health and blood sugar, in addition to supporting heart and brain function, and provide antioxidants and vitamin C. Enjoy!