R: Blackberries/Mulberries

[yummy72]

Okay, I know there is no such thing as a "stupid question" but we have a TREE in our backyard that has a "black" berry on it. Do blackberries grow on trees or bushes? I thought it was a mulberry tree, until I saw how dark the fruit was, but I did some research on the internet and realized that there is such as thing as a black mulberry. Either way, they are about to be a cobbler, but I was just curious as to what kind of cobbler I would actually be baking.



Thanks,
Candi

 

[piratesmate]

As far as I know, blackberries only grow on bushes. . . bushes with lots of pickers! The bush is thornier than a raspberry bush. Also, the fruit essentially grows right on the branch & does not have a stem. The fruit tends to be more round & has a hollow center.

Mulberries grow on trees, from a stem. While mulberries can be round, they tend to be more elongated.

Hope that helps,

d

 

[bananiem]

When I was growing up our neighbor had a mulberry bush. The mulberries were small and all the blackberries I've seen have been much larger. Though if it is a wild variety it may give smaller fruit than a cultivated one.

 

[Kermit]

I agree that blackberries only grow on bushes that poke you. I have no idea what a mulberry or its bush looks like. I guess we can't grow them down here.

 

[yummy72]

Thanks everyone! I've pretty much decided they are a variety of mulberry b/c it is definitely a tree and not a bush. They are definitely more elongated than round, but not as elongated as the mulberries I remember from my childhood. After looking on the internet, I found out there are several varieties of mulberrys and it looks like we have two of them in our yard. I also learned about all the varities of "berries" and how they grow around the country including pokeberries, chokecherries, gooseberries, and loganberries. A lot more berry information than I needed.



My grandparents had mulberries when I was a kid and we picked them until our hands, faces and clothes were stained purple and then my grandmother made cobbler. My poor husband has never had a homemade cobbler so he is in for a treat tonight. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks again!
Candi