Blackberry vs. Boysenberry — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
A blackberry is a naturally occurring fruit, whereas a boysenberry is a cross between a blackberry, loganberry, and raspberry. Both are dark, juicy berries, but boysenberries are larger and often more tart.
Difference Between Blackberry and Boysenberry
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Blackberries are fruits native to several continents, including North America and Europe. They are widely recognized for their deep black to purple color and distinct sweet taste when ripe. On the other hand, boysenberries were specifically developed in the 20th century in California as a hybrid fruit, combining elements of blackberries, raspberries, and loganberries.
When observing the physical characteristics, blackberries usually possess a smaller, more rounded shape and might often show a more intense deep black color. Boysenberries, contrastingly, tend to be larger, more elongated, and may exhibit a deep maroon or purplish hue.
In terms of flavor profile, blackberries generally have a sweet, sometimes slightly tart taste. Boysenberries inherit a unique combination of flavors from their parent fruits, often described as sweet yet significantly more tart than blackberries.
Cultivation of blackberries is more widespread due to their natural occurrence, and they thrive in various climates across the world. Boysenberries, though popular, especially in places like New Zealand, require specific conditions and are thus not as globally widespread as blackberries.
While blackberries have been consumed for centuries and have a rich history in folklore and herbal medicine, boysenberries are relatively new, with a history rooted in agricultural innovation and commercial berry farming.
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Comparison Chart
Origin
Natural
Hybrid (blackberry, raspberry, loganberry)
Size & Shape
Smaller, rounded
Larger, more elongated
Flavor Profile
Sweet, slightly tart
Sweet but more tart
Cultivation Reach
Widespread globally
Limited, specific conditions required
Historical Significance
Ancient, rich in folklore
Modern, rooted in agricultural innovation
Compare with Definitions
Blackberry
A perennial plant native to multiple continents boasting edible fruits.
Blackberry bushes lined the edge of the forest.
Boysenberry
A hybrid berry, larger than a blackberry, with a distinctive tart flavor.
The boysenberry syrup added a tangy twist to the pancakes.
Blackberry
A small drupelet-forming fruit with a deep purple to black hue.
She picked fresh blackberries for breakfast.
Boysenberry
A cross between a blackberry, raspberry, and loganberry, developed in California.
Boysenberry vines were thriving in her garden.
Blackberry
A naturally occurring berry known for its sweet and slightly tart taste.
Blackberry jam is her favorite spread on toast.
Boysenberry
A deep maroon or purplish berry often used in pies and jams.
She made a delightful boysenberry cheesecake.
Blackberry
A common fruit used in desserts, jams, and sometimes wines.
The blackberry crumble was a hit at the party.
Boysenberry
A fruit with a unique flavor profile, reflecting its mixed heritage.
The tartness of the boysenberry smoothie was refreshing.
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by many species in the genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae, hybrids among these species within the subgenus Rubus, and hybrids between the subgenera Rubus and Idaeobatus. The taxonomy of blackberries has historically been confused because of hybridization and apomixis, so that species have often been grouped together and called species aggregates.
Boysenberry
A modern berry with a history in agricultural innovation.
The boysenberry festival attracted tourists from all over.
Blackberry
Any of various shrubs of the genus Rubus in the rose family, having usually prickly stems, compound leaves, and an aggregate fruit of small drupelets.
Boysenberry
The boysenberry is a cross among the European raspberry (Rubus idaeus), European blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), American dewberry (Rubus aboriginum), and loganberry (Rubus × loganobaccus).It is a large 8.0-gram (0.28 oz) aggregate fruit, with large seeds and a deep maroon color.
Blackberry
The fruit of these plants, usually black, purple, or deep red.
Boysenberry
A usually prickly shrub that is a hybrid of a western North American blackberry (Rubus ursinus) and is cultivated for its edible, dark red to nearly black fruit.
Blackberry
A fruit-bearing shrub of the aggregate species Rubus fruticosus and some hybrids.
Boysenberry
The fruit of this plant.
Blackberry
The soft fruit borne by this shrub, formed of a black (when ripe) cluster of drupelets.
Boysenberry
A hybrid berry created from crossing blackberry, red raspberry, and loganberry.
Blackberry
The blackcurrant.
Boysenberry
A colour of the purple colour spectrum, based on the same fruit's colour, whose hexadecimal code is
#873260, RGB is rgb(135, 50, 96), CMYK is (63%, 29%, 47%) and HSL is hsl(328°, 46%, 36%).Blackberry
To gather or forage for blackberries.
Boysenberry
A cultivated hybrid bramble of California having large dark wine-red fruit with a raspberrylike flavor.
Blackberry
The fruit of several species of bramble (Rubus); also, the plant itself. Rubus fruticosus is the blackberry of England; Rubus villosus and Rubus Canadensis are the high blackberry and low blackberry of the United States. There are also other kinds.
Boysenberry
A large raspberry-flavored bramble fruit; a cross between blackberries and raspberries.
Blackberry
Large sweet black or very dark purple edible aggregate fruit of any of various bushes of the genus Rubus
Boysenberry
Cultivated hybrid bramble of California having large dark wine-red fruit with a flavor resembling raspberries
Blackberry
Bramble with sweet edible black or dark purple berries that usually do not separate from the receptacle
Boysenberry
Large raspberry-flavored fruit; cross between blackberries and raspberries
Blackberry
Pick or gather blackberries;
The children went blackberrying
Blackberry
A dark, juicy berry growing on thorny shrubs of the Rubus genus.
The blackberry pie was deliciously sweet.
Common Curiosities
Where did the boysenberry originate?
The boysenberry was developed in California, while blackberries are native to several continents.
Which is tarter, blackberry or boysenberry?
Boysenberries tend to be more tart compared to blackberries.
Can I use boysenberries as a substitute for blackberries in recipes?
Yes, but remember boysenberries might add a tangier flavor than blackberries.
What's the main difference between a blackberry and a boysenberry?
A blackberry is a naturally occurring fruit, while a boysenberry is a hybrid between a blackberry, raspberry, and loganberry.
Which berry is more popular globally?
Blackberries are more globally recognized due to their natural occurrence.
Do both blackberries and boysenberries have thorns?
Yes, both can have thorny varieties, but there are also thornless types.
How should I store these berries after purchase?
Both blackberries and boysenberries should be refrigerated and consumed within a few days.
Are boysenberries bigger than blackberries?
Yes, boysenberries are generally larger and more elongated than blackberries.
Is it easy to distinguish between a blackberry and a boysenberry by taste?
Taste can be subjective, but generally, boysenberries have a more pronounced tartness than blackberries.
Can I make wine with boysenberries?
Absolutely! Both blackberries and boysenberries can be used to make wines.
Can I grow boysenberries in any climate?
Boysenberries require specific conditions, unlike blackberries that adapt to various climates.
Is there a price difference between blackberries and boysenberries?
Prices can vary based on location and season, but boysenberries might be pricier due to limited cultivation.
Are blackberries and boysenberries grown on similar plants?
Both grow on shrubs, but blackberries are from the Rubus genus, and boysenberries are a hybrid.
Are boysenberries a modern invention?
Relatively, yes. Boysenberries were developed in the 20th century, while blackberries have ancient origins.
Are there health benefits to consuming these berries?
Yes, both blackberries and boysenberries are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
