VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Rubus laciniatus | Evergreen Blackberry 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Wildlife:  The evergreen blackberry provides food and cover for many
wildlife species.  Blackberries are eaten by numerous birds, including
the ring-necked pheasant, northern bobwhite, gray catbird, northern
cardinal, yellow-breasted chat, pine grosbeak, American robin, orchard
oriole, summer tanager, brown thrasher, thrushes, towhees, ruffed
grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, California quail, gray (Hungarian)
partridge, and band-tailed pigeon.  Mammals, such as the coyote, skunks,
common opossum, gray fox, red fox, raccoon, squirrels, chipmunks and
black bear, consume the fruit of blackberries [6,42].

Deer, rabbits, and mountain beaver occasionally browse the foliage of
blackberries [6].  In many locations, porcupine and beaver feed on the
leaves, buds, cambium, and stems [42].  In parts of California, elk may
consume small amounts of evergreen blackberry browse, particularly in
winter [16].

Livestock:  Blackberries generally provide only minimal browse for
domestic livestock [42].  Evergreen blackberry is moderately grazed by
domestic sheep but is seldom used by cattle [20].


PALATABILITY : 
Fruits of blackberries are highly palatable to many birds and mammals.
Palatability of evergreen blackberry browse has not been documented.


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
Evergreen blackberry provides important cover for a variety of wildlife
species.  Dense thickets form good nesting habitat for many small birds
[6].  Mammals, such as rabbits, the red squirrel, black bear, and
beaver, utilize blackberry thickets for hiding or resting cover [42].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Many species of blackberry are valuable in preventing soil erosion on
barren, infertile, disturbed sites [4,42].  Plants may be propagated
vegetatively, transplanted, or seeded onto disturbed sites.  Brinkman
[4] observed that scarified seed can be successfully planted in the late
summer or early fall.  Cold treatment is not required for seeds planted
in the fall, although seed planted in the spring should be stratified
and scarified.  Good results have been obtained after seeds were planted
with a drill and covered with 1/8 to 3/16 inch (0.3-0.5 cm) of soil [4].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Fruits of the evergreen blackberry are sweet and edible.  A number of
commercially grown thornless cultivars have been developed, including
`Austin Thornless,' `Thornless Evergreen,' `Thornless,' `Black Satin,'
`Dirksen Thornless,' `Georgia Thornless,' `Darrow,' `Thornfree,' and
`Smoothstem' [15,22].  The evergreen blackberry, a common garden species,
was first cultivated in 1770 [4].

The fruit, roots, and stems have been used to make various medicinal
preparations [4].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Competition:  The evergreen blackberry commonly occurs on disturbed
sites and has been observed in heavily thinned plots in spruce (Picea
spp.)-hemlock (Tsuga spp.) forests of the central Oregon coast [1].  It
reportedly spreads quickly following timber harvesting in Douglas-fir
forests of the Northwest [20].  In some areas, this vigorous invader may
compete with native vegetation on seriously disturbed sites.

Chemical control:  A number of herbicides can be used to control
evergreen blackberry.  Glyphosate, picloram + 2,4-D, and triclopyr amine
have proven particularly effective [5].

Propagation:  Detailed information is available on various methods of
commercial blackberry propagation [6].  Some herbicides appear to be
effective in reducing competing weeds, while leaving evergreen
blackberry unharmed [3,5].

Related categories for Species: Rubus laciniatus | Evergreen Blackberry