Russian White Mulberry vs Chester Thornless Blackberry - TreeTime.ca

Russian White Mulberry vs Chester Thornless Blackberry

Rubus fruticosa Chester (Thornless)

Morus alba tatarica

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Chester Thornless Blackberry
Russian White Mulberry

Chester Thornless Blackberry is a self-pollinating fruit-bearing shrub. In mid-summer, the Chester Thornless Blackberry produces large, sweet-tasting, heart-shaped blackberries that are perfect for fresh eating. It is a semi-erect blackberry plant that requires little support from a trellis to keep its fruit off the ground. Don't forget to protect your berries. The birds love this shrub almost as much as you will.

Chester Thornless Blackberries are floricanes, primarily fruiting on second year canes. Each spring cut back all two-year old canes, leaving only the last year’s growth.

Russian White Mulberry is a cold hardy and adaptable tree. It is a great choice for the impatient gardener as it reaches its mature height in a short period of time and has an attractive, dense, and rounded form.

Odd looking berries are produced among a backdrop of glossy, deep green foliage. The blackberry-esque berries ripen slowly over the season, ranging in color from white, pink, and purple-violet. While the berries are not well regarded for fresh eating, they have made tasty jams and preserves.

Chester Thornless Blackberry Quick Facts

Russian White Mulberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3b
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: pink
Flowers: white
Berries: heart shaped black
Berries: white, tart, nutritious and sweet
Firmness: firm
Flavor: light sweet taste
Harvest: July
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chester blackberry, hardy blackberry