Unwanted Species
Why this Invasive Plant is Beloved by Beekeepers
Himalayan blackberries are highly invasive in areas of Washington and Oregon. So why are they still around?
There are many species of edible berries that can be found in the Pacific Northwest, including Oregon grape, black currants, elderberries, and thimbleberries.
The most famous among the local berries, the Marionberry, are actually a cultivar of blackberry developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service at Oregon State University in 1945. Oregon is the largest producer of marionberries, between 28–33 million pounds annually. But marionberry is actually a cultivar of one of the most highly invasive plants in the Pacific Northwest: the Himalayan blackberry. Native to Armenia and northern Iran, Himalayan blackberries are considered a noxious weed and invasive species west of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon.
Himalayan blackberry is the bane of a Seattle gardener’s existence. They produce thick, long vines, covered in large spines that rip through gloves, jeans, and t-shirts with ease. They reproduce easily, sometimes from just a small root system. Seeds can live in the ground for years before germinating. The plant establishes quickly in dry or wet areas and spreads seed through…
