Garden

Rubus fruticosus agg. 'Loch Ness' (B)

Rubus fruticosus agg. 'Loch Ness'

A thornless blackberry with upright canes and glossy black fruit.

Care notes by theboxerge Updated October 15, 2026

About this plant

A thornless blackberry with a comparatively manageable framework of canes. It still needs training space and access for picking; compact for a blackberry does not mean that it will stay tidy without support.

Care at a glance

Light: Full sun in a sheltered position.
Watering: Keep the root zone moist during dry spells and fruit development, with drainage after watering.
Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil.

Plan your care

Put up supporting wires before the canes lengthen. Train the fruiting canes separately from new growth so the two generations are easy to identify when pruning.

After harvest, remove the canes that have fruited and tie in the new canes for the following crop. Keep cane tips from rooting where you do not want more plants, and leave a clear picking route along the support.

Growing tips

Pick fully coloured fruit gently and check ripeness rather than relying on a calendar date. Mulch the soil to help retain moisture, keeping material clear of the cane bases.