Thornless Boysenberry

Thornless Boysen is a trailing bramble with large, nearly seedless, sweet-tart berries that ripen in summer. Give its long canes room and support so fruit is easy to reach; the berries suit fresh eating, baking and preserves. ## Site and fruiting Choose full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Keep plants watered regularly, especially during fruit development. The selection is self-pollinating. Gurney’s lists USDA Zones 5–10, while Briggs lists Zone 5, so local winter exposure can affect performance. [Gurney’s plant page](https://www.gurneys.com/products/boysenberry_blackberries) and [Briggs Nursery’s ‘Boysen’ profile](https://www.briggsnursery.com/plant/rubus-boysen-thornless/) describe the thornless trailing form and its fruit. ## Maintenance Boysenberries fruit on second-year canes. After harvest, cut out canes that have fruited and retain healthy young canes for the next crop. Tie and train the trailing growth on a trellis, and shorten excessively long canes to keep the planting accessible.