Cascade Hydrangea is a striking hybrid shrub that combines the wild trailing blackberry flavor of the Pacific Northwest native Rubus ursinus with the vigor and productivity of the Loganberry, a cross first made in 1940 and nearly lost to time. This deciduous shrub grows 36 to 48 inches tall and wide, producing showy lacecap-type flower clusters from April through June. Hardy in zones 7 through 9, it thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires only moderate water and low maintenance, making it well-suited to maritime climates and heritage gardens where it was once a backyard staple.
Partial Sun
Moderate
7-9
48in H x 48in W
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High
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Introduced in 1940, this hybrid carries an unmatched wild trailing blackberry flavor that gardeners have sought for decades after it vanished from nurseries. Its cascading growth habit and striking lacecap flowers create both visual interest and productivity, while the thin canes are best grown on a trellis where berries are easily accessible and the plant won't sprawl underfoot. It combines the best traits of two species: larger fruit and higher productivity than its native R. ursinus parent, alongside the distinctive flavor that made the original wild blackberry legendary in the Pacific Northwest.
The berries are grown for fresh eating and home preservation. Their distinctive wild trailing blackberry flavor makes them prized for jams, jellies, and other preserves, while the larger size compared to wild blackberries allows for easier harvesting and use in baking or fresh fruit preparations.
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Prune immediately after flowering by cutting back flowering stems to a pair of healthy buds, since blooms occur on old wood. In early spring, remove any weak or winter-damaged canes. Trellising the thin canes as they grow keeps them off the ground and organized for easier harvesting.
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“Cascade Hydrangea was originally introduced in 1940 as an exciting cross between two berry plants: the highly flavorful but small native blackberry of the Pacific Northwest (R. ursinus) and the wildly popular Loganberry. This hybrid became a widely planted backyard crop for decades, treasured for its unmatched wild trailing blackberry flavor combined with larger berries and higher yields than either parent. Over time it fell out of commercial cultivation and became unavailable, though gardeners have never stopped asking for it, recognizing that no other berry quite captures that distinctive wild flavor.”