European blackberry

Rubus anglocandicans

Quick facts

Status

Declared Pest / WoNS

Life Cycle

Perennial

Growth Form

Shrub

Origin

Central/eastern Europe

Flowers

White/pale pink

Dispersal

Birds, other animals

Names

Other Common Names: Blackberry, bramble.

Form and function

Reaches maturity within approximately one year and typically grows up to 2 m tall, although plants may occasionally reach 4 m. Its seedbank is relatively short-lived, with seeds remaining viable for only a few days to up to one year. Following fire, plants can regenerate from their root system. Cool fires generally result in rapid regrowth from the crown, while hot fires kill the crown but stimulate vigorous regeneration from root suck.

Flowers

White or pale pink in colour.
Petals are ovate to almost round.
Flower clusters occur at the ends of branches in long, loose, pyramidal arrangements.
Flower axes and stalks are densely hairy.
Stamens are longer than the styles.

Leaves

Arranged alternately.
Leaves are compound with 3 or 5 leaflets.
Leaflets are obovate broadly elliptic.
Up to 11 cm long and up to 7 cm wide.
Leaf margins are sharply toothed.
Upper surfaces are green and relatively hairless.
Lower surfaces are white to grey and densely hairy.

Fruits

The fruit is an aggregate fruit made up of many fleshy segments.
Spherical/globe shaped.
10-30 mm diameter.
Fruits turn red as they begin to mature and then glossy black when fully ripe.
Each fleshy segment contains one seed.
Seeds are irregular in shape or almost triangular.
Seeds are light to dark brown and up to 3 mm long.

Roots

Woody rootstock present.
Plants produce suckers from the rootstock.
New plants form where stem tips contact the ground (layering).

Habitat

Typically found in wetter areas receiving more than 700 mm of annual rainfall and is often associated with disturbed habitats. It grows on a wide range of soil types, including grey sand, red-brown gravelly loam, red clay loam, granite and limestone. Common habitats include hillsides, river banks, watercourses, and roadside drains, where soil disturbance and reliable moisture provide favourable conditions for establishment and spread.

May be confused with...

Similar non-native species: There are numerous other European Rubus species in Western Australia including elmleaf blackberry (R.ulmifolius) which has a pink flower. Early blackberry (R.laudatus) unlike the other blackberry species in Western Australia is an American species and the more common blackberry found in the northern areas of blackberries distribution.

How does it spread?

Seed dispersal by birds, mammals (particularly foxes) and water. Bushwalkers and other recreational users can spread seeds and moving soil from one place to another. Blackberry roots can be spread to clean areas by cultivation.

Why is it a weed?

Forms dense impenetrable thickets that crowd out native vegetation.
Can infest large areas quickly as they are vigorous growing plants with many plants able to germinate and vegetatively root covering larges areas.
Thickets can pose a fire hazard because of the dry material contained within them.
Larger animals may become trapped in the prickly thickets while smaller animals, including feral rabbits and foxes use these thickets as shelter and it also provides food for introduced species such as starlings and foxes that subsequently spread seeds into new areas.

History

Cultivated in gardens, mostly for their edible fruit. Introduced to Australia in the 1840s as a horticultural plant for the production of fruit.

How to control

Physical

Physical and mechanical control is challenging due to its deep root system. Effective removal requires digging out most of the root to prevent regrowth, as slashing or cutting alone will not kill the plant. Hand-pulling or spot digging should be done before flowering and seed set to reduce the seed bank and prevent reinfestation.

Chemical

For plants/infestations at the seedling/rosette stage, apply a 100mL mix of picloram (100g/L), triclopyr (200g/L) and aminopyralid (8g/L) in 100L of water, using a foliar application method, ensuring full leaf (both outer and inner leaves) and cane coverage and spraying until just wet. This should be applied every summer for three years for the best results.

This method will damage most broad-leaved species however it is the only chemical that has provided reliable eradication. It has little effect on grasses so the area is not left bare and this also helps reduce seedling establishment. Note* This same mix without the aminopyralid can also be applied for similar results.

Prior to this method, a cost effective way to initially reduce the size of the infestation is to apply a mix of 1g metsulfuron (600g/kg) with 25mL of a surfactant in 10L of water using a foliar application method, ensuring full leaf (both outer and inner leaves) and cane coverage and spraying until just wet.

For infestations in sensitive areas, apply a mix of 100mL glyphosate in 10L of water using a foliar application method, ensuring full leaf (both outer and inner leaves) and cane coverage and spraying until just wet. This method can provide reasonable control.

Managerial

Burning is generally ineffective for control, as it does not destroy roots or seeds, but it can help clear dense vegetation and reduce biomass to improve access for manual removal. Replant native species after control has been achieved.

Biological

Various strains of the leaf rust fungus (Phragmidium violaceum) have been released across Australia. While large infections have been observed, it has minimal impact on large infestations. The rust fungus can cause leaf necrosis and defoliation, reducing the plant’s aggressiveness and rate of spread, however rust overall ineffective in controlling blackberry. Another leaf rust fungus (Kuehneola uredinis) is found throughout Australia, but also has minimal impact.