Strader's Plant Finder

Other Names:  Bristol Black Raspberry

Group/Class:  Floricane - Summer Bearing

Description:

This variety is an everbearing black raspberry that is extremely sweet, large, and excellent for fresh eating, canning and preserves; similar to red raspberries in all respects but color; they are vigorous and hardy

Edible Qualities

Bristol Raspberry is a small shrub that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces large clusters of black heart-shaped berries which are usually ready for picking from early to mid summer. The berries have a sweet taste and a firm texture.

The berries are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Baking
• Preserves
• Canning
• Freezing

Features & Attributes

Bristol Raspberry has rich green deciduous foliage on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The fuzzy oval compound leaves do not develop any appreciable fall color. It features an abundance of magnificent black berries from early to mid summer.

This is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep. Each spring, cut back all dead and two-year old canes to the ground, leaving only last year's growth standing. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Suckering
• Disease
• Spiny

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Bristol Raspberry is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Bristol Raspberry will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub may not always play well with others; as such, it is best grown in its own designated garden space or isolated area of an edibles garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.