Olallieberry
- Current Stock:
- 0
- Other Names:
- Olallie Blackberry, Olallie
- Latin Name:
- Rubus 'Olallie' (Black Logan x Youngberry)
Olallieberry (oh-LA-lee-berry) is an Oregon-bred heirloom with a cult following—glossy, jet-black berries that are sweeter than most blackberries, with an old-fashioned wild-berry flavor. Bred by USDA’s George Waldo with Oregon State from ‘Black Logan’ × youngberry, it went on to become a California favorite, and it is one of the parents of the famous Marionberry [1][2].
Note: Olallieberry is a thorny, trailing berry that fruits on second-year canes and is self-fruitful [3][4]. It is less cold-hardy than most blackberries—best in mild-winter gardens [2].
Edible Uses
Medium-sized, shiny black berries that run sweeter than tart, with a classic wild-blackberry flavor [4]. Excellent fresh, and famous in California for olallieberry pie and jam. Blackberry-family fruit is naturally rich in anthocyanins and other phenolics [5].
Ornamental Qualities
White spring flowers loved by bees, followed by glossy black fruit on long arching canes. Train it on a fence or two-wire trellis for a productive edible border; its thorny canes also make a good wildlife-friendly barrier hedge.
Environment and Culture
The name comes from the Chinook Jargon word for berry. Olallie was selected in Oregon in the late 1930s and tested across Oregon, Washington and California [1][2]. It thrived in California, where it was a major commercial berry into the 1990s, but it “never did as well in Oregon, due to lack of sufficient cold hardiness” [2]. In the Willamette Valley, plant it in your warmest, most sheltered sunny spot. Its lineage runs back to our native Pacific Blackberry (Rubus ursinus) through the loganberry. (Learn more & how to help on our Charitable Giving page.)
Harvest, Care, and Preparation
Site & soil: Full sun, sheltered from cold winds; well-drained, organic-rich soil [3].
Training & pruning: Tie new canes along wires in year one; after harvest, cut out the canes that fruited and tie in next year’s. Wear gloves—the canes are thorny [3].
Winter protection: In cold snaps, leave new canes on the ground under mulch or row cover until late winter, then tie them up [3].
Pollination: Self-fruitful [4].
Harvest: July, a little earlier in warm California gardens. Pick when fully black and glossy [4].
(See Planting Guide in next tab for more info.)
In the Kitchen
Make the California-classic olallieberry pie, cook it into jam, or serve fresh over ice cream. It also makes a deep, sweet syrup and freezes well.
Attributes
Type: Trailing blackberry cultivar (‘Black Logan’ × youngberry; USDA / OSU) [1][2]
Native Ancestry: Descended in part from Pacific Blackberry (Rubus ursinus) via the loganberry
USDA Zones: ~7–9; less cold-hardy than most blackberries [2]
Ease of Care: Moderate (thorny; needs a trellis and a warm site)
Thorns: Thorny
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Type: Well-drained, organic-rich [3]
Water Requirements: Even moisture during bloom and fruit fill [3]
Pollination: Self-fruitful [4]
Bearing Age: Second year (fruits on second-year canes) [3]
Plant Spacing: ~4–6 ft in the row; 8–10 ft between rows [3]
Bloom Time: Spring
Harvest Time: July (earlier in warm sites) [4]
Primary Uses: Pies, jam, syrup, fresh eating, freezing
References
[1] “Olallieberry” — pedigree (‘Black Logan’ × youngberry) and USDA-ARS/OSU breeding history (George Waldo). Wikipedia
[2] Finn, C.E. & Strik, B.C. 2016. “Blackberry production in the Pacific northwestern US.” Acta Horticulturae (cultivar histories and pedigrees; trailing blackberry cold hardiness). PDF
[3] OSU Extension — Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden (trellis, training, pruning, spacing; self-fruitful pollination).
[4] Dave Wilson Nursery — “Olallie” caneberry (flavor, self-fruitful, California performance). davewilson.com
[5] Siriwoharn, T. et al. 2004. Blackberry anthocyanins, phenolics and antioxidant properties across cultivars. J. Agric. Food Chem.
Pot Sizing Guide
Planting Guide: Olallieberry (Rubus hybrid)
Tip: Plant in your warmest, most sheltered sunny spot. Olallie is sweeter than most blackberries but less cold-hardy.
When Your Plant Arrives
Open the box promptly and lift your plant out gently, holding the pot rather than the stem. Leave it in its pot for now — the roots are settled and don’t need disturbing yet. Give it a slow, thorough drink until water runs through the bottom, then set it somewhere bright but sheltered, out of harsh afternoon sun, drying wind, and frost. Let it rest and acclimate there for a few days before planting. If anything doesn’t look right, please contact customer service within 7 days of delivery and we’ll take care of you.
Choosing a Site
Light: Full sun (best yields with 6–8+ hours of sun).
Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy loam enriched with compost; avoid waterlogging. Slightly acidic to neutral soils are ideal.
Space: 4–6 ft between plants on a trellis; 8–10 ft between rows.
Support: Set up a simple two-wire trellis (wires at about 3 and 5 ft) or use a sturdy fence before canes get long.
Planting Steps
Timing: Plant in early spring as soil becomes workable, or in fall where winters are mild.
Prepare: Dig a wide hole; blend native soil with compost or leaf mold for drainage and moisture retention.
Set: Plant at the same depth as in the pot; spread roots, backfill, and water deeply to settle.
Mulch: 2–3 inches of wood chips or leaves, kept a few inches off the crown.
Watering & Care
Establishment (years 0–2): Keep soil evenly moist, especially during bloom and fruit fill.
After establishment: Steady summer moisture (drip is ideal) keeps berries large and juicy.
Feeding: Top-dress with compost each spring; avoid heavy nitrogen, which pushes leaves over fruit.
Training & Pruning
This is a summer-bearing, trailing berry that fruits on second-year canes (floricanes).
- Year 1 (primocanes): Guide new canes along the trellis wires.
- Year 2 (floricanes): Fruiting side shoots develop; tie canes securely.
- After harvest: Cut the canes that fruited to the ground; keep 6–10 of the best new canes and tie them in for next year.
- Thorns: Thorny — wear gloves and long sleeves when training and harvesting.
Pollination & Bloom
Self-fruitful; one plant will bear. Good bee activity improves fruit set.
Protection
Winter: Trailing berries are the least cold-hardy blackberries. Where winters dip below about 10 °F, leave new canes on the ground under mulch or row cover over winter and tie them up in late winter.
Wildlife: Birds love ripe fruit — use lightweight netting as berries color. Protect young plants from deer browse.
Airflow & sanitation: Remove spent canes and fallen fruit after harvest to limit disease.
Harvest Basics
Timeline: First real crop in the second summer after planting.
Season: July, a little earlier in warm sites. Pick when fully black and glossy.
Kitchen: Chill promptly or process the same day. Excellent fresh, frozen, or cooked into jams, syrups, pies, and crisps.
PNW Notes
West of the Cascades, dry summers make mulch and drip irrigation valuable for steady fruit fill. Train canes in mild weather, when they bend easily; cold canes crack. Olallie was bred in Oregon but historically did better in California because of limited cold hardiness, so winter protection matters more here.
References
- Finn, C.E. & Strik, B.C. (2016). Blackberry production in the Pacific northwestern US. Acta Horticulturae.
- OSU Extension — Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden (training, trellis, pruning, spacing).
- Dave Wilson Nursery — Olallie caneberry.
