Family: Rosaceae

Rubus ‘Natchez’ is a semi-erect, thornless blackberry cultivar known for its early-season fruit and high-quality berries. Developed by the University of Arkansas, it typically ripens in early June and produces large, elongated, glossy purple-black berries with a firm texture and sweet flavor. The plant’s semi-erect canes grow 4–10 feet tall and are self-fertile, requiring no additional pollinators. Its berries are well-suited for fresh consumption, jams, jellies, and pies, and the cultivar is valued for its heat tolerance and reliable yields.

Although Rubus ‘Natchez’ is not known to be established in the Hawaiian Islands, it possesses traits—rapid growth, early and prolific fruiting, and self-fertility—that could allow it to escape cultivation and spread in the wild. Because of this potential invasiveness, cultivation of Natchez should be avoided in Hawaii to prevent unintended impacts on native ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability (Zones 5-10)
  
• History of repeated introductions
  
• Congeneric species are invasive weeds
  
• Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions
  
• Reproduces by vegetative fragmentation (suckering)
  
• Self-compatible and produces viable seed
  
• Seeds bird-dispersed
  
• Seeds survive gut passage
  
• Tolerates mutilation (e.g., pruning)

Low Risk Traits:

• Thornless (lacks a key competitive trait of weedy congeners)
  
• Not toxic to humans or animals
  
• Not shade tolerant (requires full sun)
  
• No current evidence of naturalization or weediness