The popular ‘Heritage’ red raspberry is a high-yielding, everbearing variety favored by many home gardeners. However, ‘Heritage’ raspberries are not thornless; they are classified as a thorny shrub, similar to many wild raspberry species. It is a primocane-fruiting raspberry, meaning it produces its main crop on the first-year canes, which allows for an extended harvest.
The Physical Characteristics of Heritage Raspberry Canes
The canes of the ‘Heritage’ raspberry are vigorous and upright, but they are covered with numerous small spines, botanically referred to as prickles. These prickles are epidermal outgrowths, meaning they arise from the outer layer of the cane, unlike true thorns that originate deeper within the stem.
These spines are robust and stiff enough to easily catch on clothing or pierce skin upon contact. The canes can reach heights of four to six feet, and dense growth combined with prickles can quickly create a tangled barrier. This defense mechanism is common in the Rubus genus, to which raspberries belong, and is thought to deter grazing animals. While some modern varieties are spineless, ‘Heritage’ retains its thorny nature.
Why Thorn Presence Affects Raspberry Cultivation
The presence of prickles on ‘Heritage’ canes has several implications for garden maintenance and fruit collection. Routine tasks, such as pruning and training the canes onto a trellis or support system, become more difficult and require protective gear. Maneuvering through the rows to tie up new growth or remove old canes often results in scratches and punctures.
Harvesting the berries, which occurs in a concentrated flush from late summer until the first frost, is also complicated by the spines. Thorns make it challenging to reach fruit hidden deeper inside the plant canopy without injury. Gardeners must wear thick gloves to protect their hands, which can slow down the picking process.
Popular Thornless Alternatives for Home Gardeners
For gardeners prioritizing ease of maintenance and harvesting, several thornless red raspberry varieties are available. The ‘Joan J’ raspberry is a popular thornless primocane variety that produces an early fall crop, often ripening 10 to 14 days before ‘Heritage’. Like ‘Heritage’, it is an everbearing type that yields a moderate summer crop and a heavy fall crop on smooth canes.
Another choice is ‘Caroline,’ a thornless primocane-fruiting variety known for its large, flavorful berries and resistance to root diseases. For those who prefer a floricane, or summer-bearing, variety that fruits only in mid-summer, ‘Canby’ is a widely recognized thornless option. While ‘Canby’ is considered thornless, it may occasionally exhibit very soft, fuzz-like thorns that do not complicate harvesting.