Blackberry variety Evergreen Thornless reviews, description and images

Date: 2021-06-07, updated: 2022-03-31

This trailing blackberry has attractive lacy leaves and produces small sweet fruit in late summer and autumn

Rubus subgenus Rubus 'Evergreen Thornless'

Originated from a cross of Rubus laciniatus

Variety denomination 'Thornless Evergreen'

Plants are thornless

Bushes have trailing canes

Fruit weight is 4 g

Berries have a rounded shape

Soluble solids - 15.0%

Acidity - 1.2%

Fruiting habit floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)

Flowering on floricanes starts in the first week of July

Ripening date (regular) - fourth week of August

Cold hardiness is excellent

Country of origin United States

Current status - obsolete or rarely used

The cultivar named Evergreen (also known as Oregon Thornless) was grown commercially for many years before it became obsolete. This trailing blackberry has lacy leaves and produces small, sweet fruit in late summer.
Evergreen is a wonderfully ornamental plant grown on a trellis with very pretty white (pinkish) flowers in July and small berries from 3 to 6 g in the late summer and beginning of autumn. Harvest season ends at the middle of October. Bushes are very vigorous and thornless, but numerous replacement stems often have thorns. Fruit are firm and sweet, have good aroma. Blackberry Evergreen Thornless (Oregon Thornless) often used as decorative fence like maiden grapes. Great for growing in a big container and very hardy. Winter and disease resistance are great, Evergreen can be cultivated without shelters.

Useful Growing Guides:

Berry Soil and Nutrient Management – A Guide for Educators and Growers. M. Pritts, C. Heidenreich, L. McDermott, and J. Miller; Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Caneberries Nutrient Management Guide. J. Hart, B. Strik, and H. Rempel; Oregon State University

Blackberry cultivars comparison table (2021). Compiled by myblackberryplants.com

High Tunnel Raspberries and Blackberries. AJ Both, Kathy Demchak, Eric Hanson, Cathy Heidenreich, Greg Loeb, Laura McDermott, Marvin Pritts, and Courtney Weber; Cornell Cooperative Extension

Raspberry and Blackberry Production Guide. L. Bushway, M. Pritts, D. Handley; Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service Cooperative Extension, Ithaca

Growing blackberries in your home garden. B. Strik, E. Dixon, A.J. Detweiler and N. Sanchez; Oregon State University Extension Service

Reviews of the variety Evergreen Thornless

Review from [WANDER VAN LAAR]

Rubus fruticosus 'Thornless Evergreen' (Braam 'Thornless Evergreen', Doornloze Braam)
Thornless Evergreen. Doornloze Braam met diep ingesneden blad en purperrode twijgen, Hoogte: 200 cm., Standplaats: zon, Plantafstand min. 1.25 cm., Rijptijd: half augustus - half september. Bijzonder: groenblijvend en lage soort. Moet goed rijp geplukt worden anders valt de smaak tegen.

Review from [GUEST]

Oregon Thornless or Thornless Evergreen gives big crops each year of medium sized firm fruits from mid Aug until Oct. Being a natural occurring form of the invasive cut leaf evergreen blackberry or Rubus laciniatus, it retains its thornlessness in the outer layer only, so take care not to damage its roots and remove any thorny suckers you see. There seems to be widespread variability in sold forms of Thornless Evergreen regarding fruit size, flower colour etc.

The Everthornless clone of it (retains thornlessness from its roots) has never gained wide popularity outside of commercial plantings other than Oregon U.S as it is prone to rust and is rarely offered publicly; plus it retains thorns on the bottom two feet of the plant! Some Thornless Evergreen variations sold could be this Everthornless type crept into the mix by mistake. But to most the Thornless Evergreen is still superior for the amateur fruit grower.

Highly recommended for its attractive appearance. Great for growing in a big container and very hardy. Relatively cheap and easy to find too in most garden centres.

Review from [M.DAVISON]

I've come to the conclusion that Oregon Thornless and Thornless Evergreen blackberry plants are not the same cultivar after growing both. The Oregon has small fruits and ripens end of Aug onwards, whilst the Thornless Evergreen is mid Aug onwards or even sooner with much larger fruits and more attractive pinkish flowers.
I have never seen thorny suckers from the Thornless Evergreen in 10 years of growing it, but the Oregon became a thorny mess after just a few years from planting, so I had it removed. I don't know why these are referred to as the same plant? So confusing!