A black tail deer browses on the blackberry bushes by the creek. She cautiously nibbles the verdant, serrated leaves that grow with dark green on their upper side and a pale undersurface along prickly stems. Prolific and thriving blackberry brambles overtake the landscape if you let them! The purple beauties dare you to pick them. But be sure to wear protective long sleeves when you do.
The blackberries native to California, Rubus ursinus, were once king here, but the introduced Himalayan blackberry is probably what we’re all picking, since they are the
more prevalent plant now. The Himalayan berries are called such because once upon a time, master gardener Luther Burbank mistakenly took seeds that he thought had been collected close to the Himalayan Mountains. In actuality, the seeds had been taken from Armenia, but the moniker ‘Himalayan’ stuck. The plants thrive today partly due to birds feeding on the plump berries, and partly because of the berrie’s deep roots that make eradicating blackberry plants easier said than done.
The native blackberry is often called California blackberry. The California blackberry also has prickly vines and delicious berries, but is not seen nearly as much as the Himalayan variety. The native berry’s flowers are smaller than the Himalayan variety, and the leaves are rounder in shape. Native blackberry plants produce berries that are similarly flavorsome; and they, like the introduced species are well loved by many avian and mammalian species.
Blackberries, not technically a berry, but instead, an aggregate fruit made up of many minuscule fruits, each of which contains its own pit. The rich, plum-colored fruits are loaded with vitamins A and C, and also potassium, magnesium, iron, and calcium. According to the health website, WebMD, chemicals produced in blackberries are also chock full of antioxidant properties and may provide protection from certain cancers. The nutritious powerhouses are also full of healthy dietary fiber as well.
These well-loved plants and their fruit have been utilized throughout history for numerous medicinal purposes. The ancient Greeks believed that the plant’s leaves made a rich tea that helped with sore throats, mouth sores, and disorders such as thrush and diarrhea. California indigenous groups used the shoots of new spring plants and sometimes the dried, ground berries as the foundation for medicinal tea. Early settlers made use of blackberry plants for their stomach aches, common colds, or congestion. Today, one of blackberry’s special uses is as a blackberry brandy for ‘medicinal purposes,’ of course!
Since we’re talking blackberries, the Blackberry COBBler Festival 2025 will be held on August 23rd at 16451 Golf Road, Cobb, CA. This annual event is hosted by the Cobb Area Council. Their information on Facebook states,” We are planning our 5th Festival, highlighting local artisans, vendors, and businesses, at the same time providing a platform for our local nonprofits to connect with the community and visitors.
I attended their very first Blackberry COBBler Festival in 2019, and the venue was well-attended and ran smoothly in the shade of the towering pines on Cobb Mountain. There was music, art, food, and friends- both old and new! There were potters, jewelry-makers, fiber artists, and many others. The fun and food was abundant.
Pick your fill of these berry-licious fruits and nibble the seeded berries raw, or make a sweet and mouth-watering blackberry pie, cobbler, or some jam while they last. Perhaps you’d like a blackberry smoothie or some blackberry syrup on your waffles. The jewel-toned fruit awaits you as you greet the morning sun with an empty bucket for your berries.
