Plant DetailShow Menu

Plants that fill a similar niche:
Crataegus intricata Leaves & Branch in May in the Appalachian Tail, GA
Thymus vulgaris Thymus vulgaris
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Rubus Prime-Ark® Freedom 'APF-153T' has some common insect problems:
Rednecked Cane Borer
Raspberry Cane Borer
Rubus Prime-Ark® Freedom 'APF-153T' has some common disease problems:
Fusarium Wilt of Blackberry

Rubus Prime-Ark® Freedom 'APF-153T'

Phonetic Spelling
ROO-bus
Description

Freedom is a cultivar of blackberry developed by John R. Clark at the University of Arkansas and is the first thornless primocane-fruiting blackberry ever developed. Primocane means that the plant blooms and fruits on both previous-year and current-year canes. It will grow 4-10 feet tall erect canes. Blackberries are in the rose family (Rosaceae).

The plant prefers full sun in fertile moist well-drained soils. It will tolerate clay soils and drought once established. 'Freedom' grows fast and is said to produce large, sweet fruits. Being thornless is a great plus for harvesting fruits. The new canes will produce berries first in July and the previous year's canes will produce in June. They both will continue bearing until frost. This blackberry requires 500 chill hours.

'Freedom' is recommended for home gardeners and those who grow for local markets as it doesn't ship well. Blackberries can be used in the edible garden but also as barriers, screening or grown for wildlife.

Information on blackberry cultivation for home gardeners is available in the NC State Extension publication Blackberries for the Home Garden.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This blackberry has good resistance to diseases and insects.

More information on Rubus.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#white flowers#spring flowers#thornless#fast growing#summer flowers#edible fruits#edible garden#bird friendly#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#white flowers#spring flowers#thornless#fast growing#summer flowers#edible fruits#edible garden#bird friendly#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rubus
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts birds and small mammals
    Edibility:
    Edible fruit either raw or cooked
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fruit Type:
    Aggregate
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    The large elongated drupes are red maturing to black and are juicy and edible
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    White to pink-tinged 5-petaled flowers are produced in abundance late spring to mid-summer. They are self-pollinating.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Doubly Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Compound leaves with 3-7 leaflets that are 1.5-2 inches long and lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate with soft hairs on both surfaces. Margins are serrated to doubly serrate, bases broadly cuneate to rounded and tip pointed
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Thornless green canes
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Attracts:
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought