The blackberry, a common fruit recognized by its deep, purplish-black color and unique cluster of drupelets, is a member of the extensive Rubus genus. This genus also includes raspberries and dewberries, but blackberries are distinguished because their core, or torus, remains attached to the fruit when picked, unlike the hollow center of a raspberry. This popular bramble fruit has been foraged and consumed across continents for millennia, leading to a complex and geographically widespread origin story. Exploring this botanical and historical journey reveals how the fruit evolved from a wild, thorny shrub into a globally cultivated crop.
The Wild Origins of the Rubus Genus
The geographical origins of the blackberry are notably diverse and span across much of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The true blackberries are classified within the subgenus Rubus, which contains hundreds of wild species. These species have a broad distribution, with significant populations found naturally in both North America and across Europe and Asia, often referred to collectively as Eurasia.
The sheer number of wild species and their ability to hybridize naturally creates significant taxonomic complexity, making it difficult to pinpoint a single point of origin. This confusion is further compounded by polyploidy, where individual plants possess multiple sets of chromosomes. Blackberry species exhibit a wide range of ploidy levels, which contributes to their genetic diversity and complicated lineage.
In North America, numerous species such as Rubus allegheniensis and Rubus ursinus served as the foundational genetic material for many modern cultivars. Similarly, the European bramble, often collectively called Rubus fruticosus, contributed diverse genetics to the fruit’s evolution. This broad, dual distribution meant that early humans encountered and utilized the fruit independently in different parts of the world.
Historical Human Interaction and Early Uses
Human interaction with the wild blackberry is ancient, with evidence of its consumption dating back at least 2,500 years to the Iron Age. Archaeological investigation of the Haraldskær Woman, a well-preserved body found in a Danish bog, revealed blackberries in her stomach contents. This finding confirms that the fruit was a component of the human diet in Europe millennia ago.
Beyond a food source, traditional cultures prized the plant for its medicinal properties, utilizing not just the berries but also the leaves and roots. Ancient Greek physicians, such as Galen, prescribed a decoction made from the fruit for various ailments. The fruit was even referred to as “goutberry” well into the 18th century due to its historical use in treating symptoms of gout.
Native American tribes also made extensive use of the plant for both sustenance and healing. A decoction made from the roots or leaves was commonly used to treat digestive issues like diarrhea by tribes including the Cherokee and Chippewa. They also used the plant’s canes to make twine and the berry’s juice as a dye for animal skins and fabrics, long before any formal agricultural effort began.
Transition to Modern Commercial Cultivation
The intentional cultivation of blackberries did not begin in earnest until the 19th century, marking a significant shift from simple foraging. This domestication process started primarily in the United States, where enthusiasts began selecting superior wild seedlings for planting and propagation. Early cultivars like ‘Lawton’ and ‘Dorchester’ were selected from the wild in the 1830s and became some of the first widely planted varieties in the mid-19th century.
The development of the modern commercial industry was accelerated by organized public breeding programs that started in the early 20th century. The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station established the first public program in the U.S. in 1909, followed by efforts in states like Arkansas and Oregon. A major focus of these breeding efforts was to improve fruit size and yield while overcoming the thorny, unmanageable nature of the wild plants.
The introduction of genetic thornlessness became a primary objective, with the British cultivar ‘Merton Thornless’ serving as a key progenitor for many subsequent commercial thornless varieties. Today, commercial production is highly concentrated in regions like the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. Breeding programs there have developed cultivars that combine an erect growth habit, thornlessness, and superior quality for fresh market expansion. These efforts have established the blackberry as a major global commodity, profoundly different from its wild, thorny ancestors.