Blackberry is a prickly scrambling shrub with dark coloured berries. It forms thickets and is one of Australia’s worst weeds.
Blackberry has already cost around $100 million to control and in lost production. It:
Blackberry can have some positives such as:
There are lots of different blackberry species. In NSW, the European blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) is most common. Rubus fruticosus is the collective name for different European blackberry species. Nine species occur in NSW:
This weed profile is about the Rubus fruticosus species in NSW.
Blackberry is a shrub with tangled, prickly stems. It can be hard to tell different Rubus species apart. Contact your local weeds officer for advice on identification.
There are other introduced Rubus species that are not part of the Rubus fruticosus group:
There are also native Rubus species that are not part of the Rubus fruticosus group. The native Rubus pavifolius is often found growing in association with the Rubus fruticosus group.
Blackberry infests about 9 million hectares of land in Australia. The Rubus fruticosus species in NSW grow in different areas:
Blackberry likes:
Blackberry can grow in drier climates if it has access to water e.g. along a riverbank. It does not like heavy shade.
Blackberry produces a lot of seeds. There can be up to 13,000 seeds per square metre under a blackberry bush at the end of a fruiting season. Birds and animals feeding on the berries spread the seeds in their droppings. Seeds also spread by water and with soil.
When first year canes (primocanes) touch the ground, they sprout roots and become new 'daughter' plants. The next year, primocanes produce short canes with flowers and berries on the end.
Audit, A. W. (2002). Australian Water Resources Assessment,(National Land and Water Resources Audit). Natural Heritage Trust, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Author.
Bruzzese, E., & Lane, M. (1996). Blackbery management handbook. In Blackberry Management Workshop (1993: Keith Turnbull Research Institute.. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources.
NSW Department of Primary Industries Weed Management Unit (2009). Blackberry Control Manual: Management and control options for blackberry (Rubus spp.) in Australia. Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.
Page, A. R., & Lacey, K. L. (2006). Economic impact assessment of Australian weed biological control. CRC for Australian Weed Management.
Long term control of blackberry is an ongoing process. A combination of control methods and follow up is needed.
Physical control alone is rarely successful because it’s hard to remove all the roots. Cultivation often spreads blackberry further. Slashing can help make access through infestations, but promotes regrowth. After slashing, use a follow-up control.
The leaf rust fungus Phragmidium violaceum is the only deliberately released biological control agent in Australia. It attacks the leaves, and infects flower buds and unripe fruit and stops blackberry producing daughter plants.
Phragmidium violaceum spores need dew, rain or high humidity to germinate. It is most effective when:
Eight different fungus strains of Phragmidium violaceum were released in 2000.
Strong, actively growing pastures help prevent blackberry invasion.
Goats can make a start on controlling heavy infestations. Goats prefer blackberry over improved pasture species.
Cattle will not control blackberry infestations but can stop daughter plants from establishing.
Sheep may graze blackberry seedlings if there is no other palatable feed around.
Burning will not kill blackberry. Burning can make infestations more accessible for follow-up treatment.
Herbicides are the most reliable blackberry control method. Use herbicides in combination with other control methods.
There are many herbicides registered for use on blackberry. A mixture of triclopyr + picloram used with or without aminopyralid gives the best long-term control.
Spray healthy, actively growing plants with new leaves on the cane tips. Apply to both the outer and inner leaves.
First year plants are easier to kill with herbicide. Well-established thickets may need more treatments.
After slashing or burning, wait until plants have up to 1 m of regrowth before applying herbicide.
Some blackberry species are more resistant to certain herbicides than others. Identify the species before choosing a herbicide.
See Using herbicides for more information.
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 10–13 mL per 1 L of water
Comments: Flowering to leaf fall. Use higher rate on old, dense infestations.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Hexazinone 250 g/L
(Velpar® L)
Rate: Undiluted (4 mL per spot)
Comments: Bushes up to 1 m in height.
Withholding period: No stated withholding period.
Herbicide group: 5 (previously group C), Inhibition of photosynthesis at photosystem II - D1 Serine 264 binders (and other nonhistidine binders) (PS II Serine 264 inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Metsulfuron-methyl 300 g/kg + Aminopyralid 375 g/kg
(Stinger™)
Rate: 20 g per 100 L of water + Uptake Spraying Oil (500 mL/100 L) or Pulse Penetrant (200 mL/100 L)
Comments: Spray to thoroughly wet all foliage and canes. Ensure peripheral runners are sprayed. Follow-up applications over at least two seasons are essential for complete control. Due to widespread picking of blackberries by the public, it is not recommended to apply to bushes bearing mature fruit.
Withholding period: Pastures - Grazing for meat production or cutting for animal feed: Do not graze for 56 days after application. See label for further details
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors) + 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: High/Moderate
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 100 L of water
Comments: Apply when bushes are actively growing. Thoroughly wet all foliage and canes at commencement of flowering.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 1 g/L + organosilicone penetrant
Comments: Gas gun / Splatter gun application. Thoroughly wet all foliage and canes. Commence application at flowering as this indicates good growing conditions.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 350 or 500 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Treat in late spring to autumn. Use an adjuvant.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Picloram 20 g/kg
(Tordon® Granules)
Rate: 35–45 g /m2
Comments: Apply granules over an area extending from main stem to 30 cm outside the drip line.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L
(Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut stump/stem injection application. Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel for stems less than 20 mm. Apply 5 mm layer on stems above 20 mm .
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 200 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Tordon® DSH)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Late spring to autumn treatment. Use an adjuvant.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 350 or 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Late spring to early autumn when bushes are actively growing. Use the higher rate on plants which have been damaged by grazing stock or insects.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 335 mL per 10 L of water
Comments: Gas gun / Splatter gun application. Apply to actively growing bushes.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 600 g/L
(Garlon® 600)
Rate: 170 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Late spring to early autumn. Actively growing bushes. Do not use under dry conditions.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 600 g/L
(Garlon® 600)
Rate: 280 mL per 10 L of water
Comments: Gas gun / Splatter gun application. Good control will be achieved, similar to high volume application, where bush size enables good coverage of entire bush. The use of marking agent is recommended.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
Area | Duty |
---|---|
All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
All of NSW |
Prohibition on certain dealings
Must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale. All species in the Rubus fruiticosus species aggregate have this requirement, except for the varietals Black Satin, Chehalem, Chester Thornless, Dirksen Thornless, Loch Ness, Murrindindi, Silvan, Smooth Stem, and Thornfree |
Central Tablelands |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
Central West
The exclusion zone is defined as the whole of region except the core infestation which is defined as southeast of Wellington and Warrumbungle Shire Council. |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment)
Whole of region: Land managers mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. Within exclusion zone: Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
Hunter |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
Murray |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection)
Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
North West
all lands in the region, except the core infestation area comprising the: Gwydir Shire Council, Liverpool Plains Shire Council, Tamworth Regional Council. |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment)
Whole of region: Land managers mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. Within exclusion zone: Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
Northern Tablelands |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Reviewed 2023