13 Best Thornless Berry Varieties for Your Garden

Do you love fresh fruit but dislike the pricks and pains thorns cause you during harvest? Some fruits are naturally thorn-free, and others have had this characteristic bred out. Plants and bare-root plugs are readily available for purchase for the home gardener. Join organic farmer Jenna Rich for 13 of the best thornless berry varieties for your garden.

Growing thornless berries. Close-up of ripe 'Eden' Raspberries in the garden. This plant produces profusion of dark red berries. The berries are conical in shape, with a soft and juicy texture. 'Eden' raspberries' foliage consists of compound leaves with serrated edges.

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One of the best parts about summer in the garden is freshly picked, sun-kissed berries. One of the worst parts for some varieties is dealing with spines, thorns, scratches, and pricks while picking said berries. Nothing takes the fun out of picking berries with your family like a thorn-induced rash!

While some berries like blueberries, elderberries, and strawberries are naturally thornless, others have been bred for easier picking sessions. I have compiled a list of all types of berries that range in size, hardiness, and flavor, all completely or nearly thornless. 

I hope you find something you like in this list of 13 of the best thornless berry varieties for your garden. Let’s get into it. 

‘Bluecrop’ Blueberries 

Close-up of 'Bluecrop' blueberry plant in a garden against a blurred green background. The leaves are oval-shaped with a smooth texture. The plant produces clusters of medium-sized, firm blueberries with a dusty blue hue when ripe. Some berries are still small and pale green in color.
Plant blueberries in acidic soil, spaced three to four feet.
botanical-name botanical name Vaccinium corymbosum ‘Bluecrop’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun 
height height 6 to 8 feet
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5 to 7

Blueberry plants are thornless by nature, and fun to pick, especially when plants are young and you don’t have to reach too far up to pick them. ‘Bluecrop’ is a popular mid-season variety known for its consistently large, firm, sweet berries. It was introduced in 1941. 

Amend your soil before planting blueberries to ensure the pH is between 4.5 to 5.5.  Space plants at three to four feet apart. ‘Bluecrop’ is a great option for cold-climate growers for its hardiness. Plant with at least one other variety for larger yields. 

Pro tip: Plant ‘Bluecrop’ alongside ‘Jersey’ or ‘Earliblue’ for higher yields. 

Lowbush Blueberries

Close-up of Vaccinium angustifolium berry clusters against a blurred background. These berries are small, round in shape, dark blue with a slight dusty coating.
Grow blueberries in containers with proper acidity, sunlight, and water.
botanical-name botanical name Vaccinium angustifolium
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun 
height height Less than 2 feet 
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 2 to 8

Grow blueberries in containers? You bet you can. As long as the soil has the proper acidity and the plants receive full sun and plenty of water, you can grow dwarf varieties in containers without issue. Lowbush varieties also do well in large areas, staying close to the ground.

The fruits are a little smaller and slightly more tart than standard cultivated varieties. After your blueberry bush is established and fruiting regularly, you can cut back fertilizing to one light annual feed. 

Blueberries benefit from cross-pollination, so be sure to plant more than one variety nearby. If you live where winters are harsh, mulch them heavily to protect the roots, bring your pot indoors, or wrap the container for added warmth. 

American Elderberries

Close-up shot of American Elderberry plant on a blurred green background. The American Elderberry plant is characterized by its large, multi-stemmed shrub with compound leaves comprised of five to eleven leaflets that are serrated along the edges and have a dark green color. The plant produces clusters of dark purple to black berries. These berries are small, round, and glossy.
Grow adaptable elderberries for jams or medicinal use.
botanical-name botanical name Sambucus canadensis
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5 to 12 feet
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4 to 8

Elderberries are great for home gardeners for their ease of growing and adaptability. They’re often grown as ornamentals and left for the birds, but these berries can be cooked into delicious jams, medicinal syrups, or a natural fabric dye. To keep birds away, protect your berries using scare tactics like scarecrows, rubber snakes, or noise makers. 

Plants prefer well-draining and fertile soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 but will perform well in other soils. Add them to a naturalized area that has moist soil, and elderberries can spread, which they’ll do rapidly via rhizomes in ideal conditions. 

Easily harvest by snipping off a whole cluster and remove them indoors where you have space to spread out. Yields average 12-15 pounds per plant per season. 

Strawberries 

Close-up of ripe strawberries among the greenery in the garden. The strawberry plant is characterized by its low, spreading habit with vibrant green trifoliate leaves that feature serrated edges and a glossy texture. The plant produces small, heart-shaped strawberries that are deep red in color. The berries are glossy, juicy, and adorned with numerous small seeds, or achenes, embedded on their surface.
Grow strawberries at home for cost-saving benefits.
botanical-name botanical name Fragaria x ananassa
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 6 to 12 inches
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5 to 9 

Strawberries are one of the most sought-after berries around and while it might seem intimidating to start a patch at home, with proper care and growing the right variety for your zone, you’ll be swimming in berries soon. If your family consumes a lot of berries, growing strawberries at home can be a huge cost-saver.

If you’re a beginner, I recommend starting with strawberry plugs versus bare-root strawberries, which can be a little trickier to work with. Once you have established plants, you can transplant runners to a new area for essentially free plants!

‘Earliglow’ is an early-season cultivar with incredible flavor that freezes well and whose plants are winter hardy. ‘Allstar’ is a late mid-season berry perfect for fresh eating and whose plants have moderate disease resistance. ‘Albion’ is an everbearing variety from California with extreme sweetness, perfect for pies, jams, and jellies. 

Thornless Loganberry 

Close-up of Rubus × loganobaccus with ripe berries in a sunny garden. The Rubus × loganobaccus, commonly known as the Loganberry, is characterized by its vigorous, sprawling vine adorned with dark green, serrated leaves comprised of five leaflets. The plant produces elongated clusters of deep red berries with a glossy sheen, resembling elongated raspberries.
Grow loganberries for juicy and sweet fruit.
botanical-name botanical name Rubus × loganobaccus
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4 to 8 feet
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 7 to 10

While the shape and size resemble a blackberry, the bright reddish pink comes from the raspberry. The cross of these two delicious fruits resulted in the medium to large, extra juicy, and uniquely sweet thornless loganberry. Allow the berries to fully ripen before harvesting for the best flavor. 

Loganberry plants grow erect and vigorously like blackberries and need support as they grow. Recommended spacing is one to two feet in well-draining and loamy soil. 

Established plants are heath-tolerant but should be watered in times of extended drought conditions. Berries will begin to ripen in June.

‘Thornless Boysenberry’

Close-up of Rubus ursinus x ideaus 'Thornless' plant with ripe berries. It features dark green, serrated leaves that are compound with three to five leaflets, providing a lush backdrop for the plant's abundant clusters of juicy berries. These berries are red to dark purple-black when ripe.
Plant multiple varieties for optimal yield, maintain soil, and watering.
botanical-name botanical name Rubus ursinus x ideaus ‘Thornless’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 5 to 6 feet 
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5 to 9

If you’ve never heard of boysenberries, they’re a cross between blackberries, raspberries, and loganberries, bred by Swedish immigrant Rudolf Boysen. The result is a mostly seedless thornless berry slightly larger and sweeter than blackberries. The flavor resembles a blackberry-raspberry blend.

Plant with at least one other variety to get the most fruit production from both plants. Ensure your soil is well-draining, keep weed pressure down, and water deeply and consistently, especially in year one when the plants are getting established. 

‘Thornless Boysenberry’ ripens in mid-season and should be planted three to four feet apart. 

‘Eden’ Raspberries 

'Eden' raspberries are characterized by their large, plump berries that boast a deep crimson color when ripe. The berries are elongated and have a firm yet tender texture, with a glossy sheen.
This variety produces large, sweet berries and requires minimal maintenance.
botanical-name botanical name Rubus idaeus ‘Eden’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4 to 5 feet 
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4 to 8 

This cross-bred cultivar from Nova Scotia is a floricane variety that requires a bit more attention and pruning. Canes are tall and strong, so get your trellises ready. 

Plants produce fruits on second-year wood, but the wait is worth it for its conical and perfectly sweet berries. Keep the area weed-free while they establish and amend soil for a pH between 6.5 and 6.8. Water deeply at least one inch per week if no rainfall occurs. 

‘Eden’ plants are highly productive and very hardy. 

‘Joan J’ Raspberries

Close-up of 'Joan J' Raspberry plant in a sunny garden. The 'Joan J' Raspberry plant is characterized by its vigorous growth habit and abundant foliage, with dark green, serrated leaves that are compound with three to five leaflets. The plant produces clusters of large, firm, and deep red raspberries. These berries are glossy and conical in shape.
Rubus idaeus offers hassle-free, early, and abundant yields of red raspberries.
botanical-name botanical name Rubus idaeus ‘Joan J’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 4 to 6 feet 
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4 to 8 

‘Joan J’ supporters herself and won’t cause a fuss. It’s a delight to pick perfectly glossy and red fruits from her smooth canes that release easily. She’s fall-bearing, and you’ll see fruit in year one. In subsequent years, you’ll see fruit in the summer or fall, depending on pruning and overall management.

Plants will fruit from late August until your region’s first frost and offer incredible yields. Fruits freeze and travel very well due to their dryness. 

Leave at least two feet between these thornless berries to allow them to send out canes and receive ample sunlight. Cut back all canes in the winter. 

‘Baby Cakes ®’ Blackberries

Close-up of 'Baby Cakes' Blackberry plant with ripe berries. It features thornless stems and lush, dark green foliage that provides a rich backdrop for the plant's abundant clusters of plump, glossy blackberries. These berries are shiny with a deep black color.
These compact dwarf blackberries thrive in containers, offering sweet, bountiful harvests.
botanical-name botanical name Rubus fruticosus ‘Baby Cakes ®’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3 to 4 feet 
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 4 to 8

If you’re a patio grower and always feel like your small-space garden causes you to miss out on all the berry fun, then you must try this variety. It’s a dwarf thornless berry that easily grows in containers. Its growth habit is compact and mounded. No trellis is needed!

‘Baby Cakes ®’ produces extra sweet and large berries in the summer on second-year canes. Plants may provide a second flush of fruit in the fall in regions where summers are mild. 

Water at least an inch all season using drip irrigation to ensure good fruit production and flavor. pH level preferred is between 6.5 and 7.5. This variety is extremely cold-hardy and overwinters well down to zone 4 and will produce for years when properly cared for. 

‘Chester’ Blackberries

Close-up of ripening berries of Rubus fruticosus 'Chester' plant. This Thornless Blackberry is characterized by its vigorous and upright growth habit, featuring dark green, serrated leaves that are compound with three to five leaflets. The plant produces large clusters of plump, glossy blackberries. These berries are notably large and have a deep black color when ripe.
This cold-hardy variety offers thornless canes and sweet blackberries.
botanical-name botanical name Rubus fruticosus ‘Chester’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3 to 5 feet
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 5 to 8

Hardy, thornless, and large fruits? Look no further. These fruits are sweet, and perfect for fresh eating or baking into pies. ‘Chester’ is one of the most cold hardy varieties around, and thornless to boot!

Plants will start to bloom in the spring, and berries will be ready around July. Berries remain shiny black even in hot weather. 

Plant bare-root canes shallowly and then immediately prune them to two inches above the soil surface to encourage new growth. 

‘Jonkheer Van Tets’ Red Currants

Close-up of Ribes rubrum ‘Jonkheer Van Tets’ plant in a sunny garden. This bush is adorned with bright green, lobed leaves with finely serrated edges. The plant produces elongated clusters of translucent, bright red currants. These currents are relatively small and have a glossy appearance.
This red currant offers sweet, tender berries perfect for jams.
botanical-name botanical name Ribes rubrum ‘Jonkheer Van Tets’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
height height 3 to 4 feet 
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3 to 7

This early-season red currant came out of Holland and is simply the best in class. The plants grow upright and boast clusters bursting with bright red, tender, juicy fruits that get sweeter as their color deepens.

Berries ripen in early July and have a long harvest period, perfect for summer jams and homemade wine. 

Give plants four to six feet of space and soak the bare roots for several hours before planting them. Begin pruning in the third year. 

‘Captivator’ Gooseberries 

Close-up of Ribes uva-crispa ‘Captivator’ plant against a blurred green garden background. Captivator Gooseberry is characterized by its compact and thornless growth habit, adorned with lobed, bright green leaves that provide a lush backdrop for the plant's abundant clusters of large, deep pinkish-red berries. These berries are glossy and round with a smooth skin.
Hybrid ‘Captivator’ gooseberries yield Muscat grape-like fruit.
botanical-name botanical name Ribes uva-crispa ‘Captivator’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun or partial shade
height height 3 to 5 feet
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3 to 8

There are both European and American gooseberries, differing mostly in size and disease resistance. However, ‘Captivator’ is a hybrid of the two, whose fruit is often compared to Muscat grapes. These plants are high-yielding and vigorous, producing fruit after one year of planting. Only one plant of the variety is needed as they’re self-fertilizing and will last for many years. 

Staking may be necessary as the weight of the fruit can cause them to topple over. Water deeply, but only when there has not been rainfall in a long while. They do best in mild-weather regions and where humidity is relatively stable. Disease is a higher risk when conditions are humid for extended periods. Space plants at four to five feet. This plant is described as “nearly thornless”, one of very few. ‘Tixia™’ is resistant to mildew. 

Gooseberry jam is extremely easy to do because of the high pectin levels in the berries. No added pectin is necessary, just sugar and fruit! The most time-consuming part of the whole process is removing the stems before boiling them. 

‘Josta’ Jostaberries

Close-up of Ribes × nidigrolaria ‘Josta’ plant with ripe berries in the garden. This plant is adorned with dark green, lobed leaves. It produces round clusters of large, deep purple to black berries. These berries have a glossy appearance and a smooth skin.
Jostaberry is a thornless, disease-resistant hybrid with tart-sweet fruits for various recipes.
botanical-name botanical name Ribes × nidigrolaria ‘Josta’
sun-requirements sun requirements Full sun to partial shade 
height height 3 to 6 feet
hardiness-zones hardiness zones 3 to 8 

The cross between black currants and gooseberries resulted in a thornless, relatively disease-resistant, and more productive shrub with delicious fruits called the jostaberry. Red fruits are oval and form grape-like clusters that darken to almost black as they ripen. 

The interesting flavor is mostly gooseberry tartness with a hint of currant sweetness. Add them to salads, atop homemade granola with yogurt, or cooked into Mediterranean savory dishes. 

They’re self-pollinating, so there’s no need to plant more than one. Make new plants by taking cuttings from branches with new, healthy growth or layering offshoots. 

Final Thoughts

Now that you know of some of the best thornless berry varieties on the market, I highly recommend adding some to your garden. Growing berries takes extra time and patience, but once you prepare your plots and learn how to care for them, you’ll have stained fingers from joyful, pain-free harvesting, a freezer full of pies, and a cellar full of homemade jams.

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