Most people can identify blackberries and these are a useful source of vitamin C and also contain potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. One cup of blackberries is equivalent to a portion for the recommended minimum of five-a-day of a variety of fruit and vegetables we should all be having.

The soft fruit is popular for use in desserts, jams, seedless jellies and sometimes wine. Since the many species form hybrids easily, there are many cultivars with more than one species in their ancestry.