Family: Rosaceae
Common name: Elmleaf blackberry, Thornless blackberry, European blackberry, Mediterranean blackberry, Bramble
These pretty little fruits grew in abundance near a monastery we visited while in Tbilisi. The lady guard standing close by would not allow me to go near it, though I said that I just wanted to take photos.
She knew very little English, but waved me away saying that it is ‘bad’. Guess she thought I was going to pluck and eat them. They did look very pretty and edible, but I wasn’t going to eat random fruits I found by the road, in an unknown country.
Plant Characteristics
Rubus ulmifolius is a vigorous, scrambling shrub forming dense thickets with long, arching canes that can reach 3 to 5 meters in length.
The stems are woody at the base and green to reddish when young, armed with strong, curved thorns that help the plant climb and spread.
The root system is shallow but wide-spreading, allowing the plant to colonize large areas quickly, especially along field edges and roadsides.
The leaves are very pretty indeed, dark green, rough-textured, and typically divided into three to five leaflets, each leaflet resembling an elm leaf in shape, giving the plant its name.
Each leaflet is about 5 to 10 centimeters long, with serrated edges and a paler, slightly hairy underside. In mild climates, some leaves may persist through winter, while in colder areas the plant becomes partially deciduous.
Flowers appear in late spring to early summer and are showy but delicate, measuring about 2 to 3 centimeters across. They are pale pink to white with five petals and attract bees and other pollinators.
The fruits that follow are familiar blackberries, starting green, then red, and finally turning deep purple-black when ripe, usually about 2 centimeters long and very juicy.
Gardening Tips
Elmleaf blackberry grows best in full sun, where it produces the most flowers and fruit, but it can tolerate light shade. It is adaptable to many soil types, including poor or rocky soils, as long as drainage is reasonable.
When planting, allow plenty of space, as the canes spread widely and can quickly overwhelm nearby plants if not managed. It is best to plant them along wired fences where they can grow and cover the area, giving you complete privacy.
Water young plants regularly until established, after which they become quite drought-tolerant. In very dry summers, occasional deep watering helps improve fruit size and quality.
Mulching around the base helps conserve moisture and reduces weed competition, especially in the first few years.
Pruning is essential to keep the plant productive and under control. Fruiting occurs on second-year canes, so old canes should be cut back to ground level after harvest.
Light feeding with compost or a balanced fertilizer in early spring supports healthy growth, while regular checks for aphids, mites, or fungal leaf spots help prevent minor problems from becoming serious.
Uses of Elmleaf Blackberry
The fruits of Elmleaf blackberry are widely valued as a fresh food, eaten straight from the plant or used in jams, pies, syrups, and wines.
They are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and natural sugars, making them both nutritious and flavorful. Leaves have traditionally been used to make herbal teas, especially in Mediterranean regions.
The colorful fruits are used to make a blue and purple dye.
Ecologically, elmleaf blackberry provides important habitat and food for birds, insects, and small mammals. The dense, thorny growth offers shelter, while the flowers support pollinators.
Ornamental value is secondary, but the plant is sometimes grown along fences or boundaries where a natural, wildlife-friendly hedge is desired.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, tip layering, and root suckers.
Tip layering is the easiest method for home gardeners. Canes that touch the ground often root naturally, and these rooted tips can be cut away and replanted to establish new plants with minimal effort.
Photographed at: Tbilisi, Georgia
