are you asking about the typical blackberries (with thorns) or the thornless type? I have both....but the this is the first year for the thornless....so they're not quite at their potential.

If you'll let me know, I'll try to post some pics. Also, the "typical" I'm referring to are wild...as in naturaly occuring but we've cultivated them to a certain area. The thornless...we bought at a garden center and planted in an area to give us a view and some tasty treats!

Mrs. Frodo,

I don't have any photos myself, but found an image that shows what you're wanting to see. This image is of Navajo Blackberries from the Morse Nursery website.

My brother planted a long row of these in his garden in Texas and they were quite upright, but spread out quite a bit and the canes got so tall they arched and drooped a little. Still, the erect blackberry bushes are much more upright than the trailing ones that are native here, as you'll see in the linked photo.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1132308}}

I have read that thornless blackberries need support, which I read to mean that they aren't as erect or freestanding as thorned varieties. They will fill in and make quite an impenetrable bramble if you let them, which makes it difficult to gather all the berries, but creates a protected space for bird's nests and small animals.

These pics of the Navajo blackberries sure look better than the ones I planted a few years ago. I don't know why but they just haven't done well. I was away for a year and when I came back to the garden they were practically goners.
After coddling them all summer they are starting to put on new growth, but I had expected much better results from the thornless. Needless to say, I'm still looking around for a better variety for my area.
Also, I've found that at least for me, they do need support, as they tend to droop.

Barbara