Karaka Blackberry

The Karaka Black is an early-ripening, large-fruited blackberry bred in New Zealand and now the most widely planted blackberry cultivar there. Prized for its exceptionally large, shiny black berries with rich flavour, it has become popular across Europe for both commercial growing and home gardens.

Key Features

• Exceptionally large, glossy black fruit, average 10g+ per berry
• Self-fertile, though pairs well with a second variety for pollination
• Firm-textured fruit with excellent keeping qualities, ideal fresh or frozen
• Moderate resistance to downy mildew and Botrytis
• White flowers attractive to pollinators

Fruiting & Harvest Time

Early and long-cropping. Picking usually starts early July and continues to early September, giving a 6–8 week harvest window.

Fruiting typically begins in the plant's third or fourth year.

Size of Shrub

Vigorous, trailing habit. Canes typically reach around 2m when trained in a garden setting, though can extend to 3.5m+ under commercial trellising.

Recommended spacing approx. 1m apart.

Disease Resistance

Moderate resistance to downy mildew (Peronospora sparsa, the cause of 'dry berry' disease) and to fruit Botrytis, aided by fruit firmness.