In the South of America, blackberries hold an honored place not just on our tables but also in our memories. For many of us, one taste of a blackberry cobbler instantly brings back thoughts of childhood summers spent picking berries. Blackberries are some of the first fruits of the season. White flowers in spring are followed by clusters of fruit that turn from green to red to purple before ripening to black.
Blackberries include several species, a collection of wild fruit brambles that scramble along the ground or create tall thickets in the wild. Cultivated blackberries are usually erect or trellised and have larger, sweeter, and less seedy fruit. There are even varieties without thorns so that you can gather berries without covering yourself in scratches. Find a sunny corner in your backyard and plant one of these delicious cultivars for a summertime treat.