# Blackberries are 'noxious weeds' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609 "2015-07-19T14:09:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/41 "2015-07-21T12:29:05Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The difference between an invasive alien and a desirable plant can be a fine (and subjective) line. They are both an invasive weed and also delicious. I’m reminded of a Lawrence Block novel in which a British hooker insisted that she was not an “undesirable alien”, but in fact quite a desirable one. 🙂 Blackberries cannot be a “noxious weed” when they produce very un-noxious fruit. I do have them scattered around the periphery of our yard, but as offensiveness goes they are no competition for the plague of multiflora rose and poison ivy, the only things I will use herbicides on. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/42 "2015-07-21T14:02:28Z")
Chiming in again to say that the blackberries we just left in Illinois–there weren’t many, but there were some–were indeed insipid compared to the black raspberries. The PacNW blackberries, though, are darn good. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/43 "2015-07-21T14:15:28Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > How do you wash blackberries without squishing them? In a bowl of water, the insects will float to the top. I suggest making Summer Pudding! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/44 "2015-07-21T14:17:10Z")
See my previous post. You were just living in the wrong part of Illinois 😉 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/45 "2015-07-21T15:49:29Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Chiming in again to say that the blackberries we just left in Illinois–there weren’t many, but there were some–were indeed insipid compared to the black raspberries. The PacNW blackberries, though, are darn good. I like good blackberries more than black raspberries. I agree that there are some small, insipid, blackberries out there, however. Black raspberries aren’t as variable. I like a good red raspberry more than any other bramble, however. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/46 "2015-07-21T16:10:33Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > There’s a couple different species, _Rubus laciniatus_ which grows mainly in the Pacific Northwest with some scattered Midwestern and eastern locations and _Rubus argutus_ which grows in the South and along the Atlantic coast. Both are known as “blackberries” and I won’t worry much about which are more blackberry-ish. > > Interestingly, _R. argutus_ grows through most of Illinois but _R. lacinatus_ grows in the Chicago area and is the type I’m most familar with. I’m familiar with black raspberries - [Rubus occidentalis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_occidentalis) which are never in my experience called blackberries, and taste substantially different. Very very common in the Finger Lakes area of NYS and we have them along hedge rows here in MA as well. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/47 "2015-07-21T16:14:36Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > It was of a size and maturity with the other trees, and seemed deliberately placed. But I really have no idea. > > Family property, long gone. Probably cleared for a McMansion. Another possibility is that it was deliberately planted for early flowering - so as to encourage bees to start coming to pollinate the main crop. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/48 "2015-07-21T16:44:28Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > I’m familiar with black raspberries - [Rubus occidentalis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubus_occidentalis) > which are never in my experience called blackberries, and taste substantially different. Very very common in the Finger Lakes area of NYS and we have them along hedge rows here in MA as well. Aha! I have discovered the difference between blackberries and black raspberries! In the Wiki article on blackberries (linked in the above link) it says: “What distinguishes the blackberry from its raspberry relatives is whether or not the torus (receptacle or stem) ‘picks-with’ (i.e. stays with) the fruit. When picking a blackberry fruit, the torus does stay with the fruit. With a raspberry, the torus remains on the plant, leaving a hollow core in the raspberry fruit.” In my area, most people call 'em blackberries but I have heard, rarely, black raspberries. I’d always assumed those folks probably grew up somewhere else where that name is more common. It’s nice to know these are really two separate critters. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/49 "2015-07-21T17:11:16Z")
If so, then for years I have been growing black raspberries, not blackberries? But everybody I’ve met calls them blackberries, so I do to. Looks like I’ve got some explaining to do! Thanks for teaching me the difference! ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/50 "2015-07-21T17:15:02Z")
Having reclaimed hundreds of square feet of my backyard from blackberry brambles, I can say that I have a hate-hate relationship with them. A little bit of fruit is not enough compensation. What’s interesting about the link in the OP is that I was told by other Washingtonians that the bushes with nice big berries were the native ones, and that the Himalayan blackberries had the smaller berries that weren’t good to eat. This, they said, was one primary reason to eradicate the Himalayan variety. Apparently, they’re confused. Anyway… if you like the berries, all you need is a good “hedge” of them. They make good fences if you are willing to put in the work constantly trimming them. Personally, I lean towards nuking them from orbit and buying my berries at the market. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/51 "2015-07-21T17:35:45Z")
> [@Hopeful\_Crow](#): > > Aha! I have discovered the difference between blackberries and black raspberries! […] It’s nice to know these are really two separate critters. > [@elbows](#): > > If so, then for years I have been growing black raspberries, not blackberries? But everybody I’ve met calls them blackberries, so I do to. Likewise with these guys. I have seen black raspberries around (and they do come off clean and are very yummy) but never heard them called that before. Learn somethin’ new every day. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/52 "2015-07-21T21:00:15Z")
Apparently I too have black raspberries and not blackberries. I was happy to see them growing in my (mostly unkept) flower beds and enjoy the berries. It just sounds like I need to make sure they don’t take over too much of the yard. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/53 "2015-07-21T21:11:01Z")
> [@lalaith](#): > > Wait…blackberries **aren’t** native??? > > . There are native species: _Rubus occidentalis_ , _Rubus leucodermis_, etc, in fact the Rubus occidentalis is the common one. BUT in the Pacific Northwest of North America, there was no native species, and the _Rubus armeniacus_, aka Himalayan Blackberry was introduced. It has spread and become invasive, altho really it’s not much different than native species. It has larger sweeter berries than the native species but is harder to root out. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/54 "2015-07-22T02:03:39Z")
Blackberries are devil spawn in the PNW. Christ, they are everywhere, and nasty to get rid of. Blue berries on the other hand, don’t have stickers nor seeds… Jus’ sayin’ ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/55 "2015-07-23T00:54:34Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Blackberries are devil spawn in the PNW. Christ, they are everywhere, and nasty to get rid of. Blue berries on the other hand, don’t have stickers nor seeds… Jus’ sayin’ I would ten thousand times rather have blackberries than the effing English Ivy (which chokes out even blackberries, BTW) I constantly battle. I hope whoever imported that crap is living in fire in Hell. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/56 "2015-07-23T01:58:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There are native species: > > _Rubus occidentalis_ , _Rubus leucodermis_, etc, in fact the Rubus occidentalis is the common one. > > BUT in the Pacific Northwest of North America, there was no native species, and the _Rubus armeniacus_, aka Himalayan Blackberry was introduced. It has spread and become invasive, altho really it’s not much different than native species. It has larger sweeter berries than the native species but is harder to root out. I can’t tell those apart. Couldn’t say if what I’ve got runners of in my yard and crawling up my house and fence is that or not. As far as I knew, the blackberry is native here. But I thought the American cockroach was a native and it turns out this iconic cockroach is an invasive species. I didn’t find out they weren’t until I wrote a piece about them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/57 "2015-07-23T11:07:48Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I would ten thousand times rather have blackberries than the effing English Ivy (which chokes out even blackberries, BTW) I constantly battle. I hope whoever imported that crap is living in fire in Hell. Wisteria. We have a spot where three wisteria were planted decades ago. They’ve _never_ flowered. We periodically try to eradicate it from the area, but we continue to get surface roots and new growth occurring. I’d rather deal with poison ivy. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/58 "2015-07-23T11:58:13Z")
Poison ivy is the only plant I poison and try to eradicate. And it’s a native. (I guess I also work to keep the English ivy in check, but I’ve never tried to rid my yard if it completely. I scout every summer for poison ivy seedlings to pull out, and every few years I destroy a plant that I missed. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/59 "2015-07-25T00:14:54Z")
I love blackberry bushes. When I was a kid, we had a huge field of them behind our house, and we’d go out picking them (and getting scratched) all season. But the real “noxious weed” is bindweed. They’re like morning glories, but with just a few puny flowers. The vines have infested the yard, climbed telephone poles and hung down from the wires. If you pull out a vine, any remaining root grows a new one. And they have invaded the lawn. So when I mow the lawn, any cut vine not removed grows a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609/60 "2015-07-25T00:21:11Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > But the real “noxious weed” is bindweed. Is that what those are? I thought those were sweetpeas. There’s some on the other fence in the front yard. I keep meaning to pull them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blackberries-are-noxious-weeds/725609.md?page=4)