Thornless semi-erect plant with large, firm, dark fruit that ripen early for this type of blackberry. Origin: USDA-ARS, Corvallis, OR, by C.E. Finn, B.C. Strik, B.M. Yorgey, M.E. Peterson, P.A. Jones, and R.R. Martin. ORUS 1393-1 × Triple Crown; 1/ 4 western trailing and 3/ 4 eastern erect/semi-erect blackberry; crossed 2000; selected 2003; tested as ORUS 2711-1; introd. 2017. USPP 30,062; 8 Jan. 2019. Tree: growth habit semi-erect to erect; crown forming; thornless with the Merton Thornless source of thornlessness; vigorous; yield moderate, 6.8-8.3 kg/plant; less susceptible to UV and heat damage than many semi-erect cultivars despite 42 C in California trials, susceptible to red berry mite; dry drupelet disorder, caused by anthracnose, was a problem in trials in Arkansas; very good cold hardiness, has shown no injury in 10 seasons despite temperatures below-20 C. Fruit: large, 7.5 g; blocky-conic to barrel; drupelets fairly uniformly sized, shaped and arranged, better than Chester Thornless but not as nice as Eclipse; drupelet fertility excellent; uniform and attractively shaped; bright, glossy black; flavor very good, sweet, 12.8 °Brix; pH 3.5; 10.6 g·L-1 citric acid; texture less ‘‘crunchy’’ than other semi-erect and erect cultivars; ripens with Loch Ness and 5-10 d before Navaho; stores very well.
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