• Blackberry arapaho berries growing on a plant in different stages of ripeness
  • Flowering petals of blackberry arapaho growing on a plant in a garden setting
  • Blackberry arapaho berries growing on a plant in different stages of ripeness
  • Graphic for blackberry roots explaining self pollination
  • Graphic showing the recommended growing zones for blackberry roots
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Blackberry Roots (Thornless) - Arapaho

Sweet, mildly tart flavor with a classic wild-blackberry aroma

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About the Variety

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Key Features

Frost Tolerant
Prefers Moist Soil
Attracts Bees
Easy to Grow
Edible
North American Native Cultivar

Plant Details

BOTANICAL NAME

Rubus 'Arapaho'

LIFE CYCLE

  • Perennial

SEED TYPE

  • Root

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

  • Full Sun

BLOOM SEASON

  • Spring through Late Spring

GROWTH HABIT

  • Upright

PLANT HEIGHT

  • 48 to 72 inches

PLANT TYPE

  • Thornless

COLOR

  • Black

Enjoy sweet, flavorful blackberries without the hassle of thorns. Arapaho produces medium to large, glossy black berries with firm flesh and exceptionally small seeds, making them delicious for fresh eating, freezing, baking, pies, and tarts. This manageable, upright-growing blackberry requires no trellis and is easy to harvest. Arapaho typically begins producing fruit within one to two years after planting, offering a productive and family-friendly addition to the home garden. Developed by the University of Arkansas for our southern gardeners, with increased fungal disease resistance.

  • • Manageable upright growth habit typically requires no trellis
  • • Strong disease resistance supports healthy, vigorous growth
  • • Self-pollinating; an optional pollinating partner may increase yields

Planting Information

PLANTING SEASON

  • Spring

PLANTING DEPTH

  • Crown approximately 1 to 2 inches below soil surface

WATER NEEDS

  • Average

PLANT SPACING

  • 36 to 48 inches

HARDINESS ZONES

  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9

Planting Guide

View our Blackberry Planting Guide to learn more.

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    Blackberry Roots (Thornless) - Arapaho FAQs

    Does Arapaho Blackberry need a trellis?

    Generally, no. Arapaho produces erect, self-supporting canes, so a trellis is typically unnecessary. Support may still be helpful if plants become heavily loaded with fruit or are exposed to strong winds.

    When will Arapaho Blackberries ripen?

    Arapaho is an early-season blackberry and is known as one of the earliest-ripening thornless cultivars. Exact harvest timing varies by climate and growing conditions.

    What are Arapaho Blackberries like?

    The berries are medium-sized, firm, glossy black, and notable for their relatively small seeds. They can be enjoyed fresh and are also well suited for jams, jellies, baking, and other recipes.

    Does Arapaho Blackberry fruit on new or old canes?

    Arapaho is a floricane-fruiting blackberry. New first-year canes grow vegetatively, then produce berries during their second growing season. After a cane fruits, it should be removed at ground level.

    When should I prune Arapaho Blackberry?

    Remove the canes that produced fruit after harvest, since they will not fruit again. Keep the healthy new primocanes, which will become the following season’s fruiting canes. Erect blackberries can also be summer-tipped to encourage productive lateral branching.

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