Blackberries are a popular fruit to eat, known for their dark purple hue and tart yet sweet flavor. Blackberries grow on prickly bramble bushes. However, in the wild, there are tree that has berries that look like blackberries in the wild. These look-alike berries grow on trees and not bushes like blackberries.

This resemblance often causes misidentification of true blackberries. Berries similar to blackberries found in the wild are:

• Mulberry
• Tupelo Berries
• Sassafras Berries
• Salmonberry
• Huckleberries
• Dewberries

These berries truly look like blackberries, but are not true blackberries. Botanically, blackberries belong to the Rubus genus and are classified as bramble fruits, but these lookalikes are unique species from different families that have evolved to produce similar-looking berries, likely as a means of attracting birds and other animals for seed dispersal.

Despite their close similarities, these tree-borne berries have distinct characteristics, growth habits, and even edibility levels that differentiate them from the true blackberries.

1. Mulberries

Mulberries are probably the most well-known and commonly mistaken berry that resembles blackberries growing on trees. Mulberry trees produce black or purple fruits that look just like blackberries. Mulberry varieties produce long, drooping clusters of small berries that can look remarkably similar to blackberry bunches at first glance. The mulberry fruit is small and round, with a purple or black covering.

However, there are some distinct differences between blackberries and mulberries. Mulberries are smaller, less plump, and have a more elongated shape compared to blackberries, which are fatter and rounder. Mulberries’ color can range from reddish-purple to deep black when fully ripe.

Most importantly, mulberry grows on trees with distinctively different foliage, while blackberry grows on brambles, with large, lobed green leaves. Mulberries taste different from blackberries. Ripe mulberries are also much softer and juicier than blackberries.

While blackberries grow on prickly bramble vines, mulberry trees grow to a height of 30-50 feet, with a spreading canopy and grayish bark. Mulberry clusters emerge in the late spring and early summer months across much of North America, Europe, and Asia, where they are cultivated or grow wild.

Mulberries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C. They’re also free of cholesterol and sodium, making them great for people watching their weight or who have high blood pressure.

2. Tupelo Berries

Tupelo berries, also known as black gum or sourgum, Nyssa berries, or Ogeechee limes, are the edible fruits that grow on tupelo trees native to eastern North America and belong to the same family as dogwoods. Tupelo berries resemble blackberries in their deep purple-black color and clustered growth pattern on the trees.

Tupelo berries are oval or oblong in shape, typically around 1-2 inches long, and have a tough skin with a fleshy interior. When ripe, Tupelo berries have a sweet, slightly tangy flavor that some describe as reminiscent of a cross between a lime and a mango. Their appearance can be deceiving, as their dark color and clustered growth on tree branches often make people think tupelo berries are blackberries from afar.

It is also important to mention that tupelo berries are not true berries but rather drupes. Tupelo berries with a single hard seed or pit in the center, much like cherries or olives. Like blackberries, Tupelo berries grow in clusters on the branches of tupelo trees, which can reach heights of 60-90 feet in their native habitats of swampy, flooded areas and along rivers and streams.

3. Sassafras Berries

Sassafras trees are native to eastern North America and known for their distinctive leaves and aromatic properties. While not closely related to blackberry plants, the Sassafras berries grow on sassafras trees; the berries have a striking resemblance to blackberries in appearance.

Like blackberries, Sassafras berries grow in clusters and are initially green and later turn to a deep blue-black color as they ripen in late summer or early fall. Sassafras berries are around 1 cm in diameter and have a single seed encased in a fleshy, blackberry-like exterior. The Sassafras berries grow on red-stemmed stalks attached directly to the branches of the tree.

Despite their close resemblance to blackberries, sassafras berries have a distinct flavor that is often described as a combination of citrus, root beer, and a slight bitterness. The resemblance to blackberries is purely visual, as the two fruits are quite different in taste and texture.

4. Dewberry Tree

Dewberries are native to Europe and Asia, where they grow wild along wooded hillsides. Dewberries also look like blackberries; dewberries grow on short, thorny branches. They have red berries that turn black when they’re ripe. Dewberries are sweet and delicious when eaten fresh off the bush. Dewberries grow in bunches, similar to grapes.

Dewberries are known by several different names, including cornelian cherries and mountain drops. Dewberries can be eaten fresh or cooked, and make for a healthy snack.  They have been used since ancient times in Europe, Asia, and North America to make jams, jellies, and pies.

5. Salmonberry Trees

The salmonberry tree (Rubus spectabilis), native to North America,  produces small, red berries that look like blackberries. The tree can grow up to 10 feet tall, with leaves that are about 2 inches long and 1 inch wide. The leaves are long, oval-shaped, and dark green with serrated edges; they turn red or purple in autumn before falling off completely at winter’s end.

The flowers are also small but pretty, they have five white petals with yellow tips on top of each one. The flowers bloom in spring before the leaves emerge from their buds, so they’re easy to spot among all the green leaves that cover the branches at first glance. The branches are covered in small, hairless, oval-shaped leaves that make it easy for you to see the bright red fruit hanging from them.

6. Huckleberry Trees

Huckleberries are native to the Pacific Northwest, where they grow wild in the forests. Huckleberries closely look like blackberries; they grow in areas where it’s cold or snowy for most of the year. Huckleberries love the snow. In fact, they only grow well in areas where there is snow on the ground for at least part of the year.

The huckleberry is a small, oval-shaped berry with a sweet flavor that tastes similar to a blueberry but with less acidity than a blueberry has. It’s also much smaller than a blueberry so it can be eaten whole without any preparation needed beforehand (unlike blueberries).

Huckleberries are good sources of antioxidants that help protect our bodies against damage caused by free radicals (which we get from things like pollution). They also contain vitamin E, which helps keep your skin healthy by preventing dryness; vitamin C, which helps build strong bones; potassium, which regulates blood pressure; and iron, which helps build red blood cells.

Difference Between Blackberry and Its Lookalikes

Distinguishing berries that look like blackberries but grow on trees can be challenging; these berries share similar colors, shapes, and sizes with blackberries. However, there are a few key characteristics to look for when identifying these berry lookalikes:

Leaf Shape and Arrangement: Blackberry leaves are typically compound, with 3-5 leaflets arranged in a palmate pattern. Trees that have berry lookalikes often have simple, alternately arranged leaves.

Stem and Thorns: Blackberry canes are typically thorny, while the branches of trees with berries that look like blackberries are usually smooth or have fewer thorns.

Fruit Cluster: Blackberries grow in clusters along the cane, while other berries that look like blackberries often grow singly or in small clusters on the branches of their trees.

Taste and Texture: If it’s safe to do so, you can taste a small amount of these berries. You would agree that blackberries taste different from other berries. Blackberries have a distinct sweet-tart flavor and a soft, juicy texture when ripe. Berry lookalikes may have different flavors or textures.

Plant Height and Growth Habit: Blackberry plants are typically low-growing shrubs or vines, while berry lookalikes grow on upright trees or large shrubs.

Ripening Season: Blackberries typically ripen in late summer or early fall, while some blackberry lookalikes may ripen at different times of the year.

Conclusion

It is not new that trees and fruits have a close resemblance, particularly those from different families and genera. The purpose of the proper identification of true blackberries and their look-alike berries is mainly for consumption and proper representation. True blackberries (Rubus spp.) are generally safe to consume when ripe, however, if you are not sure of what berry you have in your garden, it’s always best to consult a local expert or field guide to help you identify the berry plant before consuming them, eating berry from a tree can be poisonous if you are not sure of its identity.