Blackberry plants are perennials, which means that they come back year after year. However, it’s important to understand the growth cycle of blackberry plants to fully grasp how they come back each year.
Blackberries have a biennial growth habit, meaning that the canes of the plant grow vegetatively for one year, bear fruit the following year, and then die. This means that the top part of the plant, above the soil, is biennial and does not survive. However, the roots of the plant remain alive and continue to send up new canes each year.
In my personal experience with blackberry plants, I have observed this growth cycle firsthand. Each spring, new canes emerge from the ground, starting off as green, flexible shoots. These canes grow vigorously throughout the spring and summer, producing leaves and forming buds for the following year’s fruiting.
During the second year of growth, the canes start to bear fruit. The flowers develop on the canes in late spring or early summer, eventually turning into delicious blackberries. It’s truly a delight to watch the transformation from flowers to berries. Once the fruiting season is over, the canes begin to wither and die back, completing their biennial life cycle.
Now, you might be wondering how blackberry plants come back each year if the canes die after fruiting. Well, the answer lies in the new canes that emerge from the roots every year. These new canes are the key to the plant’s perennial nature.
As the older canes die back, the plant channels its energy into producing new canes from the underground roots. These new canes will grow vegetatively for the next year, preparing to bear fruit in the following year. It’s a continuous cycle of growth, fruiting, and renewal.
To summarize, blackberry plants are perennials because their roots survive year after year. However, the top part of the plant, the canes, grow vegetatively for one year, bear fruit the next year, and then die. But fear not, as new canes emerge from the roots each year to replace the ones that have died, ensuring the plant’s continued existence.
Blackberry plants are a wonderful addition to any garden or landscape due to their perennial nature. Not only do they provide delicious fruit, but they also display a fascinating growth cycle that showcases the resilience and renewal of nature. So, if you’re thinking of planting blackberries, rest assured that they will come back year after year, bringing you joy and abundance.
