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
Raspberries are a delightful addition to any garden, offering nutritious, flavorful fruit with minimal effort. Whether you're planting in a small patio container or a sprawling kitchen garden, there’s a raspberry variety perfect for your space and taste. Explore these top selections to find your favorite:
Raspberry Shortcake® Raspberry
Rubus idaeus Raspberry Shortcake®: Imagine a thornless raspberry so compact it fits perfectly into a patio container! Raspberry Shortcake® is an easy-care option for children and adults alike, thriving without staking or large garden spaces. Its compact, rounded habit makes it ideal for modern gardening.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Compact mound, 2–3 ft. tall and wide
- Great For: Borders, containers, hedges, kitchen gardens, mass plantings
Indian Summer Raspberry
Rubus idaeus 'Indian Summer': This ever-bearing variety delivers double the harvest! Enjoy a small crop of sweet, juicy berries in late spring, followed by a larger fall bounty. Perfect for jams, pies, and tarts, this vigorous selection adapts well to heavier soils and rewards gardeners with rambling canes full of fruit.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Canes grow 5–6 ft. long
- Great For: Borders, coastal gardens, espaliers, kitchen gardens, woodland gardens
Canby Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus 'Canby Red': A nearly thornless raspberry with large, bright red berries, this Oregon-native variety has been a favorite since 1953. Perfect for freezing, canning, or eating fresh, Canby Red’s strong canes make it a prolific summer producer. Train it on a fence or wall for easy harvesting or let it ramble naturally.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Canes grow 5–6 ft. tall (support recommended)
- Great For: Borders, espaliers, kitchen gardens, mass plantings
Willamette Raspberry
Rubus idaeus var. strigosus 'Willamette': A true classic! Willamette produces medium-sized, dark red berries with a slightly tart flavor, perfect for jams, sauces, and baking. This self-fertile floricane variety delivers a reliable midsummer harvest, making it a must-have for home gardeners.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Vigorous canes grow 6–10 ft. long
- Great For: Borders, coastal gardens, wildlife gardens, woodland gardens
Rubus Heritage Raspberry
Rubus idaeus var. strigosus 'Heritage': Heritage is a top choice for fall harvests, with sweet, firm berries that stay fresh even if you miss a day of picking! This ever-bearing variety produces a moderate summer crop followed by an abundant fall harvest. Ideal for fresh eating or preserving.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Canes grow 5–8 ft. long
- Great For: Borders, coastal gardens, espaliers, wildlife gardens, mass plantings
Caring for Your Raspberries
Raspberries thrive with the right care and attention. Follow these tips for a bountiful harvest:
1. Soil:
Provide fertile, neutral to mildly acidic, well-drained soil.2. Watering:
Deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish strong roots.3. Feeding:
Fertilize in early spring and again in summer for optimal growth.4. Pruning:
In late spring, remove all dead canes. And then after harvest, prune to ground level the older canes that fruited, leaving one-year-old canes for next season.Raspberries are the perfect combination of beauty and bounty, whether you’re planting for fresh eating, preserves, or simply to enjoy their lush green canes. With these tips and varieties, your Bay Area garden will be bursting with sweet, delicious fruit in no time!
Blackberries
Blackberries are a must-have for any garden, offering sweet, juicy berries perfect for fresh eating or baking. Whether you're looking for a compact, patio-friendly plant or a more traditional berry producer, these varieties deliver abundant harvests with minimal effort.
Marion Blackberry
Rubus 'Marion': A favorite hybrid of blackberry and raspberry, the Marionberry is prized for its juicy, sweet flavor and versatile use. Sparse, trailing canes produce white flowers in spring, followed by heavy crops of dark red to black berries ripening from early to midsummer. Enjoy them fresh, in desserts, or preserved as jam.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Fast-growing, trailing canes reach 4 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide
- Great For: Borders, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, woodland gardens
Baby Cakes™ Blackberry
Rubus Baby Cakes™ This exciting thornless dwarf blackberry is perfect for small spaces! With an upright, rounded habit, Baby Cakes™ bursts into a "fireworks" display of large, juicy berries in summer. In many regions, it even produces a second crop later in the season. Its compact size makes it ideal for patio pots or smaller gardens.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Reaches 3–4 ft. tall and wide
- Key Features: Thornless, dwarf, double-cropping in most climates
- Great For: Borders, containers, hedges, kitchen gardens, mass plantings
Caring for Your Blackberries
With a little care, blackberries will reward you with generous harvests year after year:
1. Soil: Provide fertile, mildly acidic, well-drained soil.
2. Watering: Water deeply and regularly in the first growing season to establish strong roots.
3. Sun Protection: In hot regions, shelter from harsh afternoon sun and use mulch to keep roots cool.
4. Feeding: Fertilize in early spring to encourage healthy growth.
5. Pruning: After harvest, remove canes that have fruited, leaving newer canes to produce next season. Train canes on a trellis for easier management and harvesting.
Grapes
The Bay Area’s Mediterranean climate makes it ideal for growing grapes, offering warm days, cool nights, and a range of microclimates perfect for table and wine varieties. Grapevines add beauty to gardens with lush foliage and seasonal color while providing fresh, flavorful fruit for eating, wine, and preserves. Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, they’re a sustainable choice rooted in California’s rich agricultural heritage.
Pinot Noir Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Pinot Noir': This celebrated grape, renowned for its association with Burgundy, thrives in cooler regions like the Bay Area. Its tightly clustered dark purple fruit produces world-class wines. Pinot Noir requires warm days and cool nights for optimal flavor and growth, making it ideal for coastal or inland microclimates.
- Sun: Partial to full sun
- Size: Vigorous grower, reaching 10–20 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, privacy screens
Merlot Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Merlot': A versatile table and wine grape, Merlot produces abundant clusters of large, burgundy-purple fruit in the fall. Its foliage transitions to deep yellow in autumn, adding seasonal beauty to the garden. This self-pollinating vine is ideal for arbors, fences, or open landscapes.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Rapid-growing vine, 10–20 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, privacy screens
Cabernet Sauvignon Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Cabernet Sauvignon': One of the most famous wine grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon is prized for its thick-skinned fruit and ability to withstand disease, rot, and frost. This vine is perfect for covering arbors, shading terraces, or adding structure to the garden while producing delicious dark red grapes.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Vigorous grower, 10–20 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, privacy screens
Niagara Grape
Vitis labrusca 'Niagara': A robust vine known for its sweet, green-gold grapes. Niagara thrives in sunny Bay Area gardens, where its bold-textured foliage and large clusters of juicy fruit create a striking and productive landscape feature.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Fast-growing vine, 20–25 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, privacy screens
Catawba Grape
Vitis labrusca 'Catawba': This hardy vine produces medium-sized clusters of dull purple-red grapes with a sweet-tart flavor. Perfect for jellies, juices, and wines (white, red, or rosé), Catawba ripens late in the season and thrives in Bay Area soils.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Fast-growing vine, 20–25 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, privacy screens
Thompson Seedless Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Thompson Seedless': A classic table grape known for its sweet, mild-flavored green fruit. This productive vine works beautifully as a screen for fences or arbors, offering both shade and a delicious harvest.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Fast-growing vine, 20–25 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, privacy screens
Ruby Seedless Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Ruby Seedless': This compact vine produces clusters of sweet, seedless red grapes, perfect for fresh eating. Its fast growth and dense foliage make it a practical and attractive addition to Bay Area gardens.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Fast-growing vine, 20–25 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, privacy screens
Flame Seedless Grape
Vitis vinifera 'Flame Seedless': One of the most popular seedless varieties, Flame Seedless offers medium-sized, crisp, red grapes with a sweet flavor. This early-season variety is perfect for Bay Area gardeners seeking a dependable and attractive addition to their landscape.
- Sun: Full sun
- Size: Vigorous grower, 20–25 ft. annually
- Great For: Espalier, kitchen gardens, mass plantings, privacy screens
Grape Care for Bay Area Gardens
1. Soil: Deep, loamy, well-drained soil is best, but grapes are adaptable.
2. Watering: Water deeply and regularly in the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, water less frequently, supplementing during extreme heat.
3. Sun and Wind: Provide shelter from harsh winds in exposed areas. Most varieties thrive in full sun.
4. Fertilizing: Feed with a balanced fertilizer in early spring to support vigorous growth and fruit production.
5. Pruning: Prune in winter or early spring. Remove canes that have fruited, leaving newer growth for the next season’s harvest.
6. Support: Train vines on arbors, trellises, or fences for easy management and attractive landscaping.
With careful selection and proper care, grapes can thrive in the Bay Area, offering lush foliage, privacy, and bountiful harvests. Whether you're creating a vineyard, a kitchen garden, or a living screen, there’s a grape variety to suit your needs.
