Chester Thornless Blackberry vs Balsors Blackberry - TreeTime.ca

Chester Thornless Blackberry vs Balsors Blackberry

Rubus fruticosa Chester (Thornless)

Rubus fruticosus Balsors

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Chester Thornless Blackberry
Balsors Blackberry

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 Balsors Blackberry is a cold-hardy variety that produces very large, sweet and juicy blackberries late in the summer. They are great for baking and fresh eating.

Balsors Blackberry are floricanes, primarily fruiting on second year canes. Each spring cut back all two-year old canes, leaving only the last year’s growth. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn’t require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

Chester Thornless Blackberry Quick Facts

Balsors Blackberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3b
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: high
Suckering: low
Maintenance: high
Maintenance: medium


Bark: has thorns
Flowers: pink
Berries: heart shaped black
Berries: black
Fruit size: large
Firmness: firm
Firmness: soft
Flavor: sweet
Harvest: July
Harvest: August
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chester blackberry, hardy blackberry
Other Names: balsors hardy blackberry, illinois blackberry