Raspberries, Blackberries and Grape Varieties
Spring is the best time of year to start your tasty garden and that means berries - From strawberries, to blueberries to yummy raspberries and blackberries. We have an assortment to try. Not sure which plant will suit your pallet, ask one of our resident experts in-store. Please Note - Not all varieties listed are available at all locations at all times of year.
Raspberries
Raspberry Shortcake® Raspberry
Rubus idaeus Raspberry Shortcake® is a revolutionary thornless raspberry. Perfect for children and adults, this carefree nutritious raspberry requires no staking or big garden spaces. Its compact nature and rounded growth habit thrives in both patio containers and landscapes. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Moderate growing, compact mound; reaches 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide
- Great for borders, containers, hedges, kitchen gardens, mass plantings
Indian Summer Raspberry
Rubus idaeus 'Indian Summer' This ever-bearing selection produces a small crop of large tasty berries in late spring to early summer, and a larger crop in early fall. The fruit is excellent for jams, jellies, pies, and tarts. This selection adapts well to heavier soils and produces vigorous, rambling canes. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Rapid-growing canes reach 5 to 6 ft. long
- Great for borders, coastal exposures, espaliers, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, woodland gardens
Canby Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus 'Canby Red' This nearly thornless raspberry produces large, tasty, good quality, bright red berries. Strong vigorous canes support the heavy summer crop. Ideal for freezing, canning, cooking, and fresh eating. Plant near a fence or wall for support or allow to ramble. Developed in Oregon and first introduced in 1953. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Rapid-growing canes reach 5 to 6 ft. tall, with support
- Great for borders, espaliers, kitchen gardens, mass plantings
Willamette Raspberry
Rubus idaeus var. strigosus 'Willamette' Make room for this prolific producer of juicy raspberries! A classic, self-fertile, floricane variety that reliably yields firm, medium-sized, dark red fruit that ripens in midsummer. The slightly tart, juicy berries are great for jams, jellies, sauces, and baking. Small white flowers precede fruit on erect canes. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Fast growing; vigorous canes reach 6 to 10 ft. long
- Great for borders, coastal exposures, espaliers, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, wildlife gardens, woodland gardens
Rubus Heritage Raspberry
Rubus idaeus var. strigosus 'Heritage' The classic Heritage is the best fall crop selection! This ever-bearing vine produces a moderate summer crop, followed by an abundant fall harvest of sweet berries. Unlike some, the fruit will not fall to pieces if picking is delayed a day or two; it stays firm and juicy. Excellent flavor for eating fresh or in jams. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Rapid-growing canes reach 5 to 8 ft. long
- Great for borders, coastal exposures, espaliers, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, wildlife gardens, woodland gardens
Caring for your Raspberries
Provide fertile, neutral to mildly acidic, well-drained soil. Water deeply, regularly in first growing season to establish root system. Feed in early spring, and again in summer. In late spring, remove all dead canes. After harvest, prune to ground older canes that have fruited, leaving one-year-old canes to produce next season's crop.
Blackberries
Marion Blackberry
Rubus 'Marion' A popular blackberry-raspberry hybrid valued for its juicy edible fruits. Sparse, long, lax canes bear white flowers in spring, followed by heavy crops of plump, dark red to black berries that are prized for their sweet flavor. A wonderful berry for fresh eating or baking. The berries ripen from early to midsummer. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Fast growing, trailing canes to 4 ft. tall, 6 ft. wide
- Great for borders, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, woodland gardens
Baby Cakes™ Blackberry
Rubus Baby Cakes™ is an exciting, new, thornless dwarf blackberry that presents a fireworks-like display of large, juicy berries in the summer! Its compact habit makes it perfect for patio pots. In most regions, this blackberry will produce twice in one season. Produces on second-year canes. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Average Landscape Size: Upright, rounded growth; reaches 3 to 4 ft. tall and wide
- Key Feature: Thornless Dwarf Blackberry
- Landscape Uses: Border, Container, Hedge, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting
Caring for your Blackberries
Provide fertile, mildly acidic, well-drained soil. In hot summer regions, shelter from harsh sun, and mulch to keep roots cool. Water deeply, regularly in first growing season to establish root system. Feed in early spring. After harvest, prune away canes that have fruited. Leave newer canes to produce next season's crop; train on trellis.
Grapes
Zinfandel Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Zinfandel' A popular wine grape variety that yields big clusters of thin skinned, purple-black fruit on short stems. Ripens fairly early, producing juice with high sugar levels. Vigorous vine thrives in warm climates. If weather conditions permit, grapes may be late-harvested to make dessert wine.
- Partial shade to full sun
- Vigorous growing stems reach 15 to 25 ft. long each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Privacy Screen
Pinot Noir Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Pinot Noir' Pinot Noir grapes, chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France, perform well in cooler regions. Tightly clustered dark purple fruit is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world. Requires warm days and cool nights for optimum growth.
- Partial to full sun
- Vigorous grower to 10 to 20 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Privacy Screen
Merlot Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Merlot' A popular table and wine grape that yields abundant clusters of large burgundy-purple fruit in the fall. Bright green foliage turns deep yellow as cool autumn temperatures arrive. Self pollinating; does not require another plant nearby to set fruit. This vigorous, twining vine works well as a screen for arbors or trailing along fences. Deciduous.
- Full sun
- Fast growing vine; grows 10 to 20 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen
Cabernet Sauvignon Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Cabernet Sauvignon' One of the most widely recognized varieties, producing big clusters of tasty dark red grapes and superior wine. Cold hardy and disease resistant and easy to grow. The thick-skinned fruit is borne on twining stems, and resistant to rot and frost. Use to cover an arbor, arch a walkway, or shade a terrace.
- Full sun
- Vigorous grower to 10 to 20 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen
Niagara Grape
Vitis labrusca 'Niagara' A vigorous, deciduous vine with bold-textured, deep green foliage. Grown for its large full clusters of medium to large green-gold grapes. The sweet and juicy fruit ripens midseason. Works well as a screen for arbors or trailing along fences.
- Full sun
- Fast growing vine; grows 20 to 25 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen
Catawba Grape
Vitis labrusca 'Catawba' A vigorous, hardy, deciduous vine with bold-textured, deep green foliage. Grown for its medium-size clusters of round, dull purple-red grapes. Catawba grapes are well-suited for jellies and juices, and for sweet white, red and rosé wines. Fruit ripens late in the season.
- Full sun
- Fast growing vine; grows 20 to 25 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen
Thompson Seedless Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Thompson Seedless' A vigorous deciduous vine with bold-textured, deep green foliage, grown for its large bunches of classic, small, sweet, mild-flavored, green grapes. A good mid-season table grape. This vigorous, twining vine works well as a screen for arbors or trailing along fences.
- Full sun
- Fast growing vine; grows 20 to 25 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen
Ruby Seedless Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Ruby Seedless' Vigorous deciduous vine with bold-textured, deep green foliage. Grown for its large clusters of small to medium seedless, red to reddish-black berries. Sweet dessert fruit. Ripens late mid-season. This vigorous, twining vine works well as a screen for arbors or trailing along fences.
- Full sun
- Fast growing vine; grows 20 to 25 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen
Flame Seedless Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Flame Seedless' One of the most popular grapes, prized for its excellent flavor. The vigorous deciduous vine with bold-textured, deep-green foliage produces medium-sized clusters of round, red, seedless fruit with a firm, crisp texture. An early season variety.
- Full sun
- Fast growing vine; grows 20 to 25 ft. each year
- Great for Espalier, Kitchen Garden, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen
Grape Care:
Best in deep, loamy, well-drained soils but quite adaptable. Shelter from harsh winds. Water deeply, regularly during first growing season to establish extensive root system. Reduce frequency once established; supplement in extreme heat. Feed with general purpose fertilizer. Support with arbor or trellis.Pruning time: winter or early spring.
