The loganberry (Rubus loganobaccus) is a hybrid produced from crossing a blackberry and a raspberry.

Opinion is divided. The loganberry might be red-fruiting form of the common Californian blackberry, Rubus ursinus vitifolius. The loganberry might be a seedling from a cross between the Red Antwerp raspberry and the American blackberry Aughinburgh. It was found in 1881 in Logan Heights near Santa Cruz, California by the American lawyer and horticulturist James Harvey Logan (1841-1928). He had been attempting to cross two varieties of blackberries. He accidently planted them next to an old variety of red raspberry. All three fruited and flowered together. He planted the seed. This gave us the Loganberry. Some of the seeds produced the Mammoth Blackberry, the longest berry.

There have been subsequent attempts at repeating this cross, while some have produced similar berries, none have quite replicated the Loganberry. The Loganberry has been used as a parent in more recent crosses, such as Boysenberry, Youngberry and Olallie . A thornless loganberry was developed in 1933.

It was introduced to Europe in 1897.

'American Thornless', a prickle-free mutation was found in 1933.

The Loganberry has a truly wonderful taste. The plant is sturdy and more disease and frost resistant than many other berries. However it is not popular with commercial growers. Like its blackberry parent it can be undisiplined in its growth. If it is not correctly pruned, it can revert to blackberry, it can produce blackberry 'sports'. Old canes die after their second year and should be cut away as they can bring disease, and hinder harvesting. It can be difficult to harvest. It has thorns. Berries tend to 'hide' under leaves. When some berries are ready to harvest, others are still immature. Labour costs discourage commercial growers.

It is more popular in domestic gardens than with commercial growers.

It fruits late in the year, August to September. (Blackberries fruit later) Plants continue to fruit for around 15 years. The can self-propagate. Each bush can produce 7kg to 8kg per bush, where each bush has about ten canes. Some gardners train the canes fanwise along a wall or a wire frame.

It is best harvested when the berries are a deep purple colour. (Rather than the red shown in the illustration, above).

Uses for loganberries include straight eating, jam and a type of country wine.