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thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

Thimbleberries are sweet, red berries that grow on tall bushes. They are soft and look like little cups, perfect for picking and eating right from the plant!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The thimbleberry has large, soft, maple-leaf-shaped leaves and showy white flowers resembling wild roses. Its bright red, cap-like berries, which look like tiny sewing thimbles, easily separate from their core when picked.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusRubus
thimbleberry
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgeshrub trait badgefruit_bearing trait badge
thimbleberry

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

If you ever get lost, finding thimbleberries might mean you're near water because they love moist soil!

Its extra-large, soft leaves can be used like a natural, biodegradable paper towel in the wilderness!

The thimbleberry's bright red fruit is so delicate, it often falls apart right in your hand!

Unlike many berry bushes, thimbleberry plants do not have thorns, making their fruit easy to pick and enjoy!

Special abilities

Ability

Rhizome Runner

Thimbleberry can spread underground with rhizomes that help it quickly colonize new clearings after disturbances.

Ability

Pollinator Magnet

Thimbleberry produces large, showy white flowers that strongly attract a wide variety of native insects for pollination.

Ability

Sticky Seed Spreader

Its juicy, edible berries attract birds and mammals to eat them, which helps to spread its seeds far and wide.

Measurements & details

Height
100-250 cm
Spread
100-300 cm
Flower Size
2-6 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to mid-summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Western Bumblebee

Bombus occidentalis

Feeds on thimbleberry nectar

eaten by

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Eats the sweet, ripe berries

eaten by

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Browses on leaves and shoots

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Consumes the nutritious berries

Traits

Also known as

Thimbleberry Bush

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking and eating berries in the wild.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is thimbleberry?

100-250 cm

How wide does thimbleberry spread?

100-300 cm

How big are the flowers on thimbleberry?

2-6 cm

When does thimbleberry bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

Is thimbleberry edible?

Yes

Is thimbleberry toxic?

None

What is thimbleberry's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is thimbleberry pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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