Blackberry 'Prime Ark Freedom'
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Blackberry 'Prime Ark Freedom' – Thornless, Juicy, and Homegrown with Love! Available in 6" Nursery.
🍇 Zone 7–10 | Thornless | Self-Pollinating | Non-Toxic to Pets
Get ready to experience the sweet freedom of growing your own blackberries – without the pricks! The 'Prime Ark Freedom' Blackberry is the first thornless, primocane-fruiting blackberry ever released, which means it fruits on both first-year and second-year canes for an extended harvest. Expect large, juicy, and sweet berries perfect for fresh snacking, baking, jams, and smoothies.
Since we sell both Mulberry 'Dwarf Everbearing' and Blackberry 'Prime Ark Freedom' we wanted to let you know that Mulberries and blackberries are both fruits you can eat, but they come from different plants. Mulberries grow on trees, and blackberries grow on bushes. Blackberries are usually smaller and round, while mulberries are longer. Blackberries taste more tart or sour, and mulberries are sweeter, kind of like grapes.
🌱 Plant Features:
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Type: Deciduous fruiting shrub
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Height: 5–6 feet (with support)
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Spread: 4–5 feet
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Fruit: Extra-large, glossy black berries with outstanding flavor
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Thorns: None – totally thornless canes!
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Pet Friendly: ✅ Yes! Non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA-safe)
🌞 Sunlight Requirements:
Full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily) for the best fruit production.
🌿 Soil & Watering:
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Prefers well-draining, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5).
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Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and control weeds.
📅 Fruiting Time:
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First crop appears in summer (early July) on new canes.
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Second, lighter crop can appear in fall (September–October) in warmer regions.
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Fruits best in USDA Zones 7–10, but can survive in Zone 6 with winter protection.
🛠️ Care Tips:
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Support with a trellis or fence to encourage upright growth and easier harvesting.
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Prune spent canes after fruiting to promote new growth.
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Fertilize in early spring with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer.
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Watch for birds—they love these berries too! Netting may help protect your harvest.
🎉 Fun Facts:
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‘Prime Ark Freedom’ was developed by the University of Arkansas for both home gardeners and commercial growers.
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It’s one of the few blackberries that fruits on first-year growth, meaning you don’t have to wait a year to enjoy your first harvest!
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The flavor is so rich and sweet, you might forget to save any for pie!
Ready to grow your own blackberry paradise? Whether you’re planting in the ground or a large container, the 'Prime Ark Freedom' is your gateway to delicious homegrown berries—no gloves required.
🛒 Add this sweet, thornless wonder to your cart and taste the freedom of growing your own fruit!
- Botanical Name
- Rubus fruticosus 'Prime Ark Freedom'
- Common Name
- Blackberry 'Prime Ark Freedom'
- Plant Type
- Fruit-bearing shrub
- Light Requirements
- Full sun
- Watering
- Keep soil evenly moist, especially during fruiting
- Soil
- Well-draining, fertile soil with organic matter
- Hardiness Zone
- Zones 6–10
- Mature Height
- 4 to 6 feet
- Mature Spread
- 3 to 4 feet
- Fruit Season
- Summer to early fall; primocane-bearing (can fruit on first-year canes)
- Growth Habit
- Erect, thornless canes
- Pollination
- Self-pollinating
- Pet Friendly
- Non-toxic, but may cause mild digestive upset if consumed in large quantities
- Fun Fact
- ‘Prime Ark Freedom’ is the first thornless primocane-fruiting blackberry, meaning you get fruit in the first year of growth!
Plants ship from our location in Florida and arrive nationwide within 5-8 business days. All our plants ship exclusively with UPS to ensure they arrive timely and in good condition. For those users in Florida, George, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia, shipping may be faster. Estimated shipping dates can be seen in checkout. Plant exclusions may apply.
We monitior the weather in each destination location to maximize the shipping time and utilize thermal protection to ensure that the plant is protected. You can add a heatpack or thermal bag to your order if temperatures at night fall below 40 degrees.
You can visit our shipping policy to learn more.