We have finally found a local source of hardy blackberries. And when we say hardy, we aren’t talking about blackberries that are hardy to zone 4 or 5.

The Problem with "Hardy" Blackberries

There is a complete lack of reliable, cold-climate-adapted blackberries for growers in zone 3. Many sites will include names like Natchez, Darrow, Illini Hardy, or Chester as being “hardy.” However, all of these blackberry cultivars are marginal. They may survive a year or two, but eventually—when we get a winter of -30°F or lower—they die out.

A Unique Discovery in the Mission Valley

The mother plants of these blackberries have been surviving in a cold part of the Mission Valley north of Missoula for over 30 years. These are the only established blackberries we know of in Montana, and since they’ve been there so long, they’ve definitely seen temperatures below -30°F.

Potential for Even Greater Cold Tolerance

Given that these are the hardiest blackberries we’ve seen, we surmise that if the canes are brought to the ground and mulched over in the fall, they very well may even be hardy to -40°F or colder.

Flavor and Characteristics

They do have thorns, but they produce large, juicy blackberries with a sweet/tart flavor.