Chester Thornless Blackberry vs Trader Mulberry - TreeTime.ca

Chester Thornless Blackberry vs Trader Mulberry

Rubus fruticosa Chester (Thornless)

Morus x Trader

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(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Chester Thornless Blackberry
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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.

The Trader Mulberry is a rare find. Named for the Trader family who brought the mulberry from Germany when they immigrated to the U.S. in 1982 and planted the original tree at their new homestead in North Dakota. This tree still bears fruit today! Similar to the Illinois Everbearing, but more winter hardy, this mulberry is a cross between white and red mulberry trees. This vigourous tree will produce large, sweet-tasting, virtually-seedless, black fruit throughout the entire summer and is great for fresh eating, jams, and wine. Do not plant near walkways or driveways as the berries can stain.

Chester Thornless Blackberry Quick Facts

Trader Mulberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3b
Zone: 3b
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: high
Suckering: none
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: pink
Berries: heart shaped black
Berries: black seedless, large
Firmness: firm
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: July
Harvest: Early July - Early September
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chester blackberry, hardy blackberry
Other Names: mulberry, red mulberry