Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush

Rubus 'Chester Thornless'

$54⁵³

Out of stock
Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™

Plant Size

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush highlights at a glance!

Botanical Name

Rubus 'Chester Thornless'
Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Growing Zones

5, 6, 7, 8
Growth Rate

Moderate
Mature Height

3 - 4 feet
Mature Width

3 - 4 feet
Leaf Color
- Green
- Red
Flower Color
- Pink
- White
Native

Yes
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Pollinator Required

No
Bloom Period

Early Spring, Late Spring
Harvest Time

Mid Season

Growing Zones 5-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Top producer Chester Blackberry (Rubus 'Chester Thornless') is a wonderfully self-fruitful, semi-upright thornless Blackberry that produces high yields of large, firm berries in the peak of summer! Perfect for all-around use as a healthy snack, baking, desserts, and preserves, the fruit is sweet and not tart. These firm berries are best when ripened on the vine, and Chester is a robust Blackberry variety that stands up against common blights and cold winters.

The pleated green leaves and Wild Rose-like pinkish-white flowers welcome spring and call pollinators to arrive in swarms to assist with your fruit pollination! The nearly thornless canes are a delight to harvest from and wonderfully kid-friendly! Songbirds will adore these ouch-free canes to nest in and take shelter in all year round! You may wish to employ some bird netting to discourage your feathered friends from absconding with all your delicious fruit!

Chester is a late-season floricane (summer-bearing) berry bush that is very disease-resistant and heat-tolerant throughout USDA growing zones 5-8 and is remarkably easy to grow! This cold-hardy beauty produces even after the temperatures drop below zero. As for gardeners in the south, these berries tolerate the heat well and even arid conditions. In fact, their deeply hued berries keep their ravishing color despite the heat.

Planting and Application:

Make use of your fence line or add a few Chester Thornless Blackberries to your veggie garden. Create hedges and privacy around your property without worrying about trespassers of both the two and four-legged kind! These flowering and fruiting ornamental bushes are perfect for double-duty edible landscaping in any sunny location you have on your property!

Planted with an early and a mid-season producer to extend your harvest while increasing pollination amongst all bushes in the area! Use groupings of Blackberries to increase productivity and pollination, or a single specimen of these self-pollinating bushes! Chester Blackberry is great as a cottage garden backdrop or for casting shade in the herb and veggie garden! Birds adore these fruiting shrubs and nest and take shelter in them regularly!

Prepare your bakeware--you will want to fill up on these as you pick them fresh then use the rest in pies, jams, jellies, on your ice cream or yogurt, and anywhere else you can conceive to use them! And after you're all out of ideas, you can freeze the rest for smoothies.

Deep Reddish-Black Berries
Vigorous Growth & Highly Productive
Summer Ripening Thornless Floricanes
Wonderful Sweet Flavor - Not Tart!
Gorgeous White Flowers for Pollinators
Edible Landscaping, Hedges & Wildlife-Friendly Groupings

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Blackberry bushes thrive in full sun or partial shade - but you will enjoy more fruit in full sun! Plant your berry bush in a well-drained, enriched site with a 3-4 inch layer of arborist mulch chips to hold in moisture and insulate the roots. Provide new shrubs with consistent moisture and regular fertility. Once established, provide extra moisture when fruiting and all summer. Chester Blackberries however thrive in poorer soil and less moisture once established!

Pruning Floricane Blackberries

After harvest, cut back older canes to the ground and dream of your impending harvest next year. Remove the canes completely after they have fruited over their entire length to encourage the production of new canes.

Full Sun & Partial Shade
Enriched Well-Drained Soil & Moderate Moisture Needs
Cold Hardy/Heat-Tolerant Bushes!
Self-Pollinating - More Berries With Another Bush
Drought-Resistant & Disease Resistant
Prune Floricanes After Fruiting
600-700 Chill Hours

When you see your Chester Thornless Blackberry covered in plump berries, you may wonder if it's black magic. Don't worry - it's just a phenomenal variety with kid-friendly magical Blackberries. If you don't have the patience for unproductive plants, you will love this Thornless Blackberry. Order your own today at NatureHills.com!

Easy to harvest

Compared to other blackberries, my chester thornless is dream to pick--no thorns!

Hello Redi,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush! We’re delighted to hear that harvesting from your bush is such a breeze—no thorns definitely make a big difference when picking blackberries. It’s one of the many reasons this variety is a favorite among blackberry lovers.

If you haven’t already, you might enjoy pruning tips in early spring to encourage even more robust fruiting and easier picking next season. Our Care Resource Library also has helpful guides to keep your bushes healthy and productive year after year.

We truly appreciate your feedback and are glad your Chester Thornless is living up to expectations! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like more advice — we’re always happy to help your garden thrive.

Growing with you,
Nature Hills Nursery – Your Trusted Plant Specialists

Easy to harvest

Compared to other blackberries, my chester thornless is dream to pick--no thorns!

Hello Redi,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush! We’re delighted to hear that harvesting your blackberries has been such a pleasant and thorn-free experience—there’s nothing like easy picking to make berry season truly enjoyable.

If you ever want to maximize your harvest, consider pruning your bushes in late winter to early spring; this can encourage vigorous growth and bumper fruit production. Also, good soil drainage and consistent watering can help keep those delicious berries coming. Should you need any tips on caring for your blackberries as the seasons change, don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re always happy to help.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Presentation

Very inviting! Nice to have one, Good to eat and help in the digestive system.

Dear Cesar,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush! We're delighted to hear that you find it inviting and appreciate its delicious fruit, as well as the digestive benefits it offers. Blackberries truly are a wonderful addition to any garden—both for their taste and their health perks.

If you’re interested in maximizing your enjoyment, you might try harvesting them at peak ripeness for the best flavor and using them fresh or in jams and smoothies. Also, keeping the bush well-watered and mulched can ensure healthy growth and a bountiful harvest next season.

Please feel free to reach out if you want tips on pruning or disease prevention—that thornless variety tends to be relatively low maintenance, but a little extra care goes a long way!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Presentation

Very inviting! Nice to have one, Good to eat and help in the digestive system.

Hi Cesar,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts about your Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush! We're delighted to hear that you find it both inviting and beneficial – blackberries truly are a wonderful addition, not just for their delicious berries but also for their role in supporting digestion.

If you're looking to maximize your harvest, consider regular watering during dry spells and pruning in early spring to encourage healthy new growth. Mulching around the base can also help retain moisture and keep those roots cool, promoting even better yields.

Should you ever want tips on companion planting or pest management for your blackberry bush, feel free to reach out – we're always here to help your garden thrive.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Mulch

Be sure to use mulch on these plants. My Chester thornless blackberries began producing heavily after I applied the mulch.

Dear Jumper,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with the Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush! We’re delighted to hear that mulching made such a positive difference in your plants' production. Mulch helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds—exactly the conditions these berries appreciate to thrive. If you ever want to explore additional care tips, like optimal pruning times or fertilization schedules, feel free to reach out to us!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

1 2

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150+	$24.99

Chester Thornless Blackberry Bush

Plant Sentry™