Dris
Latin name: Rubus fruticosus
The blackberry bush is very common in Ireland. Its long stems reach over walls and climb along hedges. It has prickly thorns that take root where they touch the ground. It’s no wonder there are so many blackberry bushes in Ireland!
The flowers of the blackberry are white-pink. They grow from June to September. Bees love the sweet smell of the flowers. Honey from bees that have eaten from blackberry flowers make a darker colour honey. It also has a fruity taste.
The leaves of the blackberry bush are oval. They have very jagged edges.
Blackberries beginning to ripen
Carsten Krieger
Blackberries beginning to ripen
Carsten Krieger
Have you ever picked blackberries in the autumn?
Blackberries first grow in early summer. They are small, hard and green. Later in the summer they turn red. By autumn, they are a deep purple-black colour. The bush becomes covered with blackberries in the autumn.
The sweet blackberry treats at the end of the summer are worth the wait!
Blackberry & apple crumble
Have you ever mixed blackberry and apple to make a fruit crumble? Eaten with ice-cream, it’s one of the nicest summer desserts you could have.
Why not ask an adult to help you make it?