Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

Thimbleberry is an easy to grow relative of raspberries and blackberries, and is just as tasty! It is an erect, thornless shrub, with large, soft maple-shaped leaves. In spring, it is covered with showy white flowers, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. The raspberry-like fruits ripen in early to mid summer; they are absolutely delicious, and high in vitamin C! Thimbleberry can spread vigorously through rhizomes to form dense thickets, so it is best planted in wilder areas of the garden where it has room to spread. It is useful for erosion control on shady hillsides and in riparian areas, and is a great addition to food forests.

Sun Exposure: Shade, partial shade, sun
Soil & Moisture: Moist to seasonally dry, humus-rich, well-drained soil
Mature Size: Up to 7' tall, spreads by rhizomes
Bloom Time: Spring
Edible: Yes
Wildlife Value: Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Moth host plant. Fruits eaten by birds and mammals. Provides cover and nesting sites. Browsed by deer and elk.
Native Range & Habitat: Forests, forest edges, riparian areas, hillsides, clearings, and disturbed sites, from low to high elevations. Widely distributed across western North America.
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