Rubus fruiticosa is a scrambling shrub with prickly arching stems. It is grown for its fruit.
The leaves are deep green and consists of 3- 5 leaflets. In spring masses of small white flowers are produced and these are followed by black berry-like fruit.
The fruit is delicious eaten raw or used in cooking and the flowers attract lots of bees
In Europe the plants grow in hedgerows, the edges of woodland and along roads and railways lines. However, in Australia they have invaded many areas of farmland reducing the animal feed for this reason the Blackberry is now recognised as one of worst weeds and in 1999 was declared a Weed of National Significance.
There are various commercial cultivars that are not included in the list and can be cultivated. They include:
Rubus 'Black Satin' 'Chehalem' 'Chester Thornless' 'Dirksen Thornless' 'Loch Ness' 'Murrindindi'