Natchez Thornless Blackberry

Rubus ‘Natchez’

NOTE: All of our fruit plants are grown in containers outdoors so they are fully rooted and landscape-ready upon arrival.

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Fruit Bush

Height at Maturity: 4-5′

Width at Maturity: 6-8′

Growth Habit / Form: Semi-erect

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: White

Foliage Color: Green

Thornless: Yes

Fruit Color: Black
Fruit Size: Very large! (8-9 grams)
Fruit Taste: Very sweet, excellent flavor!

Soluble Sugar: 9.5-10%

Ripening Period: Early to Mid Season

Chill Hours: 400-500

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun is best, Part Shade is tolerated

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.0

Maintenance / Care: Low

Description

A 2007, University of Arkansas release (US Plant Patent 8510), Natchez is the most recent addition to our line of thornless blackberry varieties from the Razorback state. It has been blessed with essentially all of the quality attributes we have come to associate with the Arkansas thornless blackberries. Specifically, Natchez is an early season producer of very large (8-9g) sweet berries, on semi-erect, thornless canes, and is really a great selection for overall quality.

The most notable attribute that Natchez possesses is that its yield potential is actually double (yes – 2X) that of Arapaho, its sister variety. As a result (along with its more semi-erect growth habit), Natchez may very well benefit from being trellised (or given some type of support), especially as it begins to develop and ripen its heavy loads of fruit in the late spring and early summer.

Natchez fruit is firm, and with its Soluble Sugar content (9.5-10%), it stores well and has very good post-harvest potential. Besides being sweet, Natchez also has a notably good flavor profile among the thornless blackberry varieties – making it an especially fantastic choice for fresh eating, and/or for use in all sorts of sweet goods and desserts.

Natchez is a sun-loving, self-pollinating floricane, and it has demonstrated truly excellent disease resistance overall (which was one of the main focal points in its development). With Natchez, you will get a cutting-edge blackberry that was bred with the mindset of bringing together all the best attributes of the previously released thornless blackberries into a single variety that does it all!

NOTE: All of our fruit plants are grown in containers outdoors so they are fully rooted and landscape-ready upon arrival.

Growing Preferences

Natchez Thornless Blackberry will produce the best and most berries when growing in full sun. However, where space is limited, a blackberry plant will produce good crops even when grown in shade, which is something no other common fruit plants will do. Blackberries will grow reasonably well in most soil types except for very compacted clay or light chalky soil. In these soils it’ll be worth your time to mix in lots of organic compost to condition the soil and add beneficial nutrients and bacteria plants need to grow healthy. Blackberries grow and produce the best fruit in well-drained but moist fertile soil that is rich in organic matter. They like the soil to hold a good supply of water, especially when the fruits are developing in summer, but not so much water that the soil stays constantly soggy or wet.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on planting and caring for Blackberry bushes.

How To Plant A Blackberry Bush

How To Fertilize & Water Blackberry Bushes

How To Prune And Train Blackberry Bushes

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!

Hello!!
wanted to say THANKS!!, every plant was shipped in excellent shape, packaged wonerfully, also got the bonaza dwarf peach tree…Wonder specimens…..will be referring people your way, once they see these dandies planted , and the shape and size…man..just Thanks!!!———————————–Again, We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and beautiful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Several months ago I was searching for a particular plant which brought me to Wilson Bros. I am not tech savvy but the website was excellent. Extremely easy, fast, answered all of my questions, and has a wonderful system. If the product is sold out, they email you to let you know that they now have it in stock. Delivery is fast, always packed carefully. I have never had a plant that was not perfect when I opened the box. I literally have spent thousands of dollars with Wilson bros and I will continue to do so. I have only called the company once, and they answered my question, were extremely knowledgeable and very pleasant to talk with. Pricing was great, no more Home Depot or Lowe’s. I have 25 acres in Odessa Florida with a gazillion Wilson Bros plants and this is the only company that I will purchase plants from.————————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the lovely review! Beth | WBG 🙂

Lost one of my thornless blackberries in the Great Texas Freeze. I had already ordered several plants from Wilson Bros so knew I could rely on them for a healthy replacement, fast. They delivered. The kicker? Literally the day the new bush arrived, the supposedly dead blackberry bush sent up a green shoot from its root ball. So, now, even more sweet blackberries when the time is right. Natchez is a Texas favorite.————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! And yay for the supposed dead one!! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Very pleased. Beautifully packed. Thanks bunches.————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased with your purchase! Thanks for the great review! Beth | WBG 🙂

I planted these last year and they took off! I trellised them and I had an absolutely great crop this year. It lasted the month of June which is great for me because I. Like to travel in the RV from July on. Great fruit, easy keepers!——————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I was surprised when I unpacked this plant to see how big and healthy it was. It even had berries on it! Other places have sent me tiny bare rooted plants and not all survive. Will definitely order again from this place.——————————–Thanks so much for your review. Let us know if there’s ever anything we can help you with. – Beth | WBG