Wild blackberry

Wild blackberry is a prickly, scrambling, woody, perennial shrub which smothers native vegetation, can dominate forestry plantations, and is a host for blackberry rust.

Description

• Rhizomes are dense and layered.
• Stems are less than 8m long, arching and entangling, with large backwards-pointing thorns.
• Leaves are compound and palmate, with three to five oval, toothed leaflets, and prickly stalks and midribs.
• Flowers are white/pink and visible in clusters from November to April. Fruit is red, ripening to black.
• Seeds dispersed by birds, other animals, water and soil movement. Vegetative spread from rhizomes.
• Habitats include scrub, riparian and forest margins, shrublands, fernlands, riverbeds, wetlands, sand dunes, roadsides, wasteland, pastures, orchards, and plantations.

What you need to know

Displaces and smothers native vegetation. Reduces pasture production and capacity and injures stock. Can dominate forestry plantations, impeding access and reducing overall yield. Host for blackberry rust (Phragmidium violaceum).

Management approach

Community led

These organisms have not been legally declared as pests but may be of interest to the public as they occur regularly in the environment. They may be capable of causing adverse effects to the values of Waitaha/Canterbury.

Consider removing this invasive species from your property and consult your local council for appropriate disposal. Consider lower-risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Control

Site management

Follow up treated areas three times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after two to three treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Physical control

Dig out.

Plant parts for disposal: All parts.

Contact your local council for appropriate disposal locations.

Chemical control

No qualifications: Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with metsulfuron gel.

Basic Growsafe certified: Foliar spray with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water.

Certified handler/experienced agrichemical user: Foliar spray with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.

Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.

Biological control

Check for the presence of self-introduced blackberry rust (Phragmidium violaceum).

Safety notes

Plant has thorns.