Willamette Thornless Marion
Date: 2021-03-22, updated: 2024-02-02
A thornless variation of widely-known blackberry cultivar Marion
Rubus subgenus Rubus Watson 'Willamette Thornless Marion'
Originated from a cross of Marion x Genetic mutation
Plants are thornless
Bushes have trailing canes
Berries have a oblong shape
Soluble solids - 12.2%
Acidity - 1.9%
Fruiting habit floricane fruiting (summer-bearing)
Flowering on floricanes starts in the third week of May
Ripening date (regular) - second week of July
Cold hardiness is moderate
Country of origin United States
Patent USPP28309P3 dated August 21, 2017
Current status - obsolete or rarely used
Blackberry Willamette Thornless Marion is a thornless variation of the world-known cultivar Marion. Inventor is Leonard Joseph Heidt (Oregon, United States). Variety is nearly identical in all ways except that it does not have the thorns. It has the same color and flavor as the Marion, the same growing characteristics, harvests at the same time, and processes in a similar manner. The key advantage of this cultivar is that the problem of stems with thorns during mechanical harvest is eliminated. In addition, since the primocanes do not have thorns, the care and handling of the canes is simplified, and worker fatigue and injury is significantly reduced.