Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus aggregate
InthesouthwestofWesternAustraliathemostcommonspeciesofblackberryfoundisRubus anglocandicans(CommonBlackberry),alsopresentbutlesscommonisRubusulmifolius(Small LeafBlackberry).
The Problem / Impact
BlackberrywasoriginallyintroducedintoWAforitsfruitbuthassincebecomeaserious environmentalweedgrowingalongrivers,creeks&wetlandsbetweenPerth&Albany. Itspricklystems(canes)cantakerootsimplywherethey touchtheground,andcanformdense impenetrablethickets uptoseveralmetreshigh.
Blackberrywillpersistindefinitelyinanareaunlessitistreated.Plantsthatdiearereplacedby seedlingsordaughterplantsproducedbynearbyindividuals.Plantsmayproduceupto13,000 seedspersquaremetre.This,combinedwithveryrapidgrowth(50–80mmadayinspring), meansblackberrycantakeoveranareafast,asaconsequence Blackberryisregardedasoneof theworstweedsinAustralia.
Impactsinclude:
Crowdingoutofnative species
Provisionofhabitatforpestanimals
Reductionofpastureproduction
Restrictingaccesstowater&land
Increasingfirehazardthroughdeadmaterialinthickets
Decreasingpropertyamenity&value
Growth Habit & Biological Weak Link
Blackberryisaperennial,semi-deciduousshrubwithprickly stems.
R.anglocandicanshaspalmateleaves withasmoothgreen uppersurface&asomewhathairy,whiteundersurface.The stemsaregreen,lightbrownorpurple.Itproduceswhite flowersinthesummer,withthefruitsripeninginlate summer.
R.ulmifoliushaspalmateleaveswithawhitehairyunder surface&pinkflowersthatareproducedinsummer.
Blackberry'sbiologicalweaklinkforanestablishedplantis whenitisactivelygrowing-duringitsfruiting&flowering season(SeptembertoApril),&attheseedlingstagefornew plants(SeptembertoDecember).
Management & Control Options
Bepreparedtohaveamultiseasonstrategy&bepersistentoveranumberofseasons.A3prongedapproachisrequiredtomeetthechallengeofmanagingblackberry: Takeactiontopreventitsspread1. Takeactiontocontrolexisting&reduceexistinginfestations2. Rehabilitatetreatedareastopreventre-infestation3.
CHEMICALCONTROL:
How?Highvolumespotsprayingisrecommended,aimingforgoodcoverageinsidethebush thenoutsideonallsidesoftheleaf,runners&tips Takecarenottooverdose&affectoff targetspeciesorcontaminatewaterways
What?Metsulfuron10gms/100litresofwaterplusEndorse300mls/100litreswater
Why?Ithaslowoff-targeteffectonnativevegetation(retainingsedgeshelpsstopreinvasion ofotherweedsanderosioncontrol),theadditionoftheEndorseprovidesbiggerdropletsize andreducesdrift,&givesexcellentresults(butslowtowork)
PHYSICALCONTROL:
Slashingwillnotkillblackberrybutcanopenupdensestandsforfollow-upcontrolbyother methods Mechanicalcontrolisdifficultandmostoftherootsystemmustberemovedfor effectivecontrol–blackberrywillregrowfromanyrootfragmentsleftinthesoil Afollowup controlwillbeessential.
BIOLOGICALCONTROL:
Biologicalcontroloffersthegreatestlikelihoodforsuccessinlarge,inaccessibleinfestations. TheblackberryleafrustPhragmidiumviolaceum,whichattackstheleaves,canstilltakeupto5 yearsbeeffective&herbicidesmaystillberequirediftherustishavinglittleimpact.
Rehabilitation & Prevention
Rehabilitationofanareaaftercontrolmethodshavesucceededcanincludeburningofdead canes.Akeyrehabilitationstrategyistoavoidbaresoil-inapasturescenariomaintaingood pasturecoveryear-round,inotherareasmaintainafast-growinggroundcoverwhichcanoutshadeseedlingsandoutcompetethemforwaterandnutrients.Blackberryrootsdonotdevelop muchoverwintersonativeseedlingsthatareabletogerminateandactivelygrowduringthis periodwillhaveadefinitecompetitiveadvantage.
References & Further Information
SourcesofInformationforthisflier: WeedManagementGuide(Rubusfruticosusaggregate)-CRCforAustralianWeedManagementandthe CommonwealthDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandHeritage Betterblackberrycontrolwithlessoff-targetdamage–WarrenCatchmentsCouncil
FurtherReading:
HusseyB.M.J,KeigheryG.J,DoddJ.,LloydS.G.,CousensR.D(2007)WesternWeeds–Aguidetotheweedsof WesternAustralia,(2ndEdition)TheWeedsSocietyofWesternAustralia,VictoriaPark,WesternAustralia DPIRDWebsite:https://www agric wa gov au/declared-plants/blackberry-declared-pest
LowerBlackwoodLCDC 403KudardupRoad,KudardupWA6288 POBox42,KarridaleWA6288 T:97584021| E: info@lowerblackwoodcomau wwwlowerblackwoodcomau
ThisbookletwasfundedthroughtheStateNRM CommunityStewardshipGrants2019
