Blackberries are common in many landscapes, from gardens to wild areas. Identifying these plants by their leaves is useful for safely foraging their edible fruit or managing their growth. Understanding blackberry leaf characteristics allows for accurate identification and appreciation of this widespread plant.
Key Leaf Characteristics
Blackberry leaves are compound, made up of several smaller leaflets. They are palmate, with leaflets radiating outwards from a central point, similar to fingers on a hand. While some species have three leaflets, many display five, and sometimes even seven, especially on first-year growth. Individual leaflets are ovate to oval, often with a pointed tip.
The edges of blackberry leaflets are serrated or toothed. The upper surface is dark green and can feel rough or wrinkled. The underside is paler green and may have fine hairs, giving it a downy texture. Prominent veins are visible on the underside of the leaf, branching out from a central mid-vein. While green, leaves can develop reddish or purplish hues, particularly in colder weather or autumn.
Leaf Arrangement and Stem Features
Blackberry leaves are arranged alternately along the stem, meaning that individual leaves emerge at different points rather than directly opposite each other. These stems, often called canes, are a defining feature. Blackberry canes are woody and grow in an arching or sprawling manner, forming dense thickets.
Blackberry plants have thorns, or prickles, along their stems. These can be sharp, varying from straight to slightly hooked. Stems can be green when young, developing reddish tones as they mature, and may have ridges or angles. A leaf stalk, or petiole, connects the compound leaf to the main stem, and these petioles can also have prickles.
Distinguishing from Similar Plants
Distinguishing blackberry from other plants is important, especially raspberries and poison ivy. Raspberry leaves, also compound, often have a white or silvery, felt-like underside. Raspberry canes are more rounded in cross-section and may have smaller, denser bristles or prickles, unlike the larger thorns on blackberries. When a raspberry fruit is picked, it leaves a hollow core, whereas a blackberry fruit retains its core.
Poison ivy is another plant confused with blackberry. Poison ivy leaves are always compound with three leaflets, following “leaves of three, let it be.” Unlike blackberries, poison ivy plants do not have thorns on their stems or leaves. Poison ivy leaflets can have variable margins, including smooth, toothed, or lobed edges, but lack the sharp serrations of blackberry leaves. Poison ivy grows as a vine or a low shrub, lacking the thick, arching canes of blackberry plants.