Leaves: Deciduous to semi-evergreen (depending on winter severity). The leaves are compound, typically displaying 3 to 5 oval, rich green leaflets with sharply serrated margins and a slightly wrinkled texture. Notably, the undersides of the leaf midribs and petioles are armed with prominent, sharp thorns.

Flowers: Showy, five-petaled white to soft pinkish-white blossoms blooming in early spring. They are borne in heavy clusters on the terminal ends of the fruiting wood and are highly attractive to honeybees and native pollinators.

Fruit: Very large, glossy, deep black aggregate fruits composed of numerous juicy drupelets. The berries are round-to-oblong, firm, and offer a bold, complex, and pleasantly tart-sweet blackberry flavor. They are exceptional for fresh eating, cobblers, jams, and wine.

Seeds: Each individual drupelet contains a single small, woody, and noticeably hard seed. While the seeds are prominent, they do not detract from the high juice volume of the large berry.

Canes: The plant does not produce traditional tree bark. Instead, it develops stout, deeply ridged, and erect canes (stems). In their first year, canes are a bright, smooth green; in their second year, they mature into a woody, reddish-brown hue. The canes are heavily armed with formidable, curved, and very sharp thorns.