VERY few raspberries will perform in central South Carolina. DormanRed is the sole exception that does well. Heritage MAYBE will fruit and survive with exceptional care. There is another one or two rarer possibles, including one that is said to tolerate considerable shade (to help in summer). Bababerry is adapted to the temperature regime but not to the humidity and rain and thus disease pressure. Still, I have grown it an enjoyed it for a while. The story is much better with blackberries. Most blackberries do well there. Avoid ones from the cooler blackberry growing territory of NW US. Clemson University (and your local ag extension agent) and the websites of the smaller regional mail-order nurseries can give you ideas of the best adapted selections (Isons Nursery, Johnsons, Lawsons, Edible Landscaping, etc.). Avoid disappointment, start with the proven reliables. Start with thornless and just one or a few of the very thorny but productive and best tasting ones. I am trying the new sensation "Triple Crown" this year.

Hi all, weighing in nearly one year later on my growing experiences: Last summer was unusually cool for this area, with most daytime highs in the high 60s and low 70s throughout the season, up until late August when it got into the 80s. I was able to garden all these berries organically--organic slow release fertilizer and no spraying. The Rosanna raspberries all died early, despite being watered regularly and planted in a sunny but not hot location. I think they were probably poor quality plants however The Heritage survived but didn't produce that much. As of this spring it has a bare handful of berries forming. It got 2 and 1/2 feet tall by the end of last season. The Brandywine lived through last summer but died unexpectedly this winter :(. I have no idea what did it in. It only grew a few feet tall last year. The thornless boysenberrys absolutely thrived last summer, grew several feet in all directions and went dormant for the winter. About 2 months ago it suddenly woke up and "exploded" with new growth and flower buds. Currently I am looking at several quarts of boysens forming--what a treat! I think the lesson in all this is that yes, some raspberries will live and produce small crops in coastal southern California, but truthfully it isn't their ideal climate. I am predicting that the surviving Heritage plant is not going to like a warmer summer this year which is more normal to my area; highs in the 80s most of the summer, into the 90s by late August. OTOH this is the birthplace of boysenberries, and it really shows. My advice to Californians is; for the easiest, most satisfying berry growing experience, grow boysenberries.

i would find a local grower ... or orchard that grows them...and ask them what cultivar they grow... LOCALLY ... my local orchard even sells plants in spring ... though i love wallyworld ... i would not rely on plants shipped.. in bulk from arkansas ... e.g.: googling : raspberry growers CA ... i found the link below ... getting good cultivars.. really matters for berry production ... pay the money.. to get a good start ... and do not expect much production the first season... and learn all about their biennial tenancies ... and how to prune them ... and do look for EVERBEARING types... they give fruit twice a season ... both of these berries.. are bramble... and can run from horrible ... huge ..... invasive-type plants... that barely berry .... to good acting [blanking on the word i want] .... plants.. that nearly crush themselves with berry production... its really worth it.. to get the right one... ken ps: never met a blackberry that out performed a raspberry .... pps: i have a yellow rasp.. fall gold.. to die for ... and heritage .. same ... i killed off dads historical plants.. years ago.... once i got these .. they grow well in MI ... no clue where you are ... Here is a link that might be useful: link

Native little wild blackberry often has the same 'white dust' on the new growth as the black raspberries. Just because 'all the sites' say a species has a particular characteristic doesn't mean that characteristic is going to definitively separate that species from all others. Species descriptions are maddeningly incomplete. And plants are variable.