Besides being beautiful, berry shrubs provide an abundance of delicious fruit! Arkansas is a great place to grow these varieties and enjoy a sweet treat any time of year. Read on to discover what varieties grow best in Arkansas, including blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, youngberry, goji berry, boysenberry, and dewberry.
In Arkansas, blackberries are a staple, with the University of Arkansas leading the way in cultivar production. It is best to plant blackberries in a full sun location in your backyard with good wind flow and at least three feet of growing space between the plants. Ideally, it's best to plant in late winter to early spring before soil temperatures warm. Keep an eye out for blackberry pests such as spider mites and ensure your soil drainage remains optimal. Common blackberry varieties to grow in Arkansas include:
Blueberry shrubs grow best in a mounded location at least one foot high and two feet wide. It is crucial that your soil has optimal drainage with a high acidity concentration—a pH of 4.8 to 5.4 is considered ideal. Although Arkansas soils tend to be acidic, you can never be sure without a soil test! Visit Westwood Gardens today to discuss your soil needs and balancing methods.[
Picking raspberries while you enjoy your backyard is a classic summer treat that you and the kids will love! Raspberry berries thrive in the heat and grow best in full sun environments with well-draining, fertile soil. The best time to plant raspberries is in the early spring. A soil with good drainage is needed as these plants have shallow roots and don't like soggy feet.
Youngberries are like blackberries—only sweeter and smaller. Youngberry pie and jam are absolutely delicious, so why not grow your own shrubs to make these delicious treats? This hybrid berry shrub is a cross between the blackberry, raspberry 'Phenomenal,' and the 'Mayes' dewberry. Berry lovers consider them extra special shrubs because they usually ripen a few weeks earlier than other common blackberry varieties. You can plant youngberries in the winter for summer enjoyment.
Delicious and antioxidant-rich, goji berries flourish in Arkansas. Goji berries are a great addition to smoothies, yogurt bowls, and ice cream! These berry shrubs are fool-proof to grow and are pest resistant, so you won't have to put in much work for a delicious berry harvest. As surprising as it may seem, goji shrubs prefer slightly alkaline soil, with a pH between 6.8 to 8.1. Full sun environments are ideal, with a regular watering schedule and well-draining soil.
Dewberries are worth a special mention for their raspberry-like shape and blueberry-like color. They have a unique flavor you can enjoy raw or baked into dessert dishes like cobblers and pies. Plant these berry shrubs in a full-sun environment and water often during the shrub's first year of growth through the blooming season. Dewberries are hardy shrubs that don't require much care, making them an excellent berry shrub for beginners!
Boysenberries taste like a mix between a raspberry and blackberry—juicy, sweet, floral, and tangy, all in the best way possible. One of the largest Rubus berries, the berries on these shrubs reach up to a whopping 2.5 centimeters in length. Adorn your landscape with stunning foliage, as well as a bounty of fruit that you can cook down into the sweetest of flavors. Serve fresh goat cheese and rosemary flatbread with boysenberry sauce spiked with wine and black pepper for a decadent autumn meal. The soil in Arkansas is perfect for growing berries, and you can grow your own wild ones right at home. Visit us at Westwood Gardens in Arkansas today to find out which berry shrub best suits your landscape!
