Fruit of the tayberry are borne on short, strong laterals on prickly canes 6 to 7 feet long. Tayberry fruit, like that of the raspberry and blackberry, is an aggregate fruit consisting of a collection of drupelets. Plants are very vigorous and require a sturdy trellis for support. Commercial yields can be heavy up to 12 tons per acre. Like a blackberry, the core remains in the berry when picked.
Fruit are somewhat less acid than the loganberry with a strong, slightly tart flavor.
Fruit can be eaten fresh or processed as jams or jellies. Tayberries make an excellent crop to grow under windows as a home security barrier because the canes are so prickly. Both can be grown in warmer areas of the state in partial shade or with a northern exposure. Avoid exposures subject to dry, desiccating winds. Gooseberries reach a mature height of 4 to 5 feet with compact arching canes.