Rubus parviflorus is a deciduous herb native to Western North America from South Alaska as far as New Mexico, California, Chihuahua and San Luis Potosi, producing a cup shaped, red fruit. English common names include Western thimbleberry, Mountain sorrel, Salmonberry and Western thimble raspberry.
Though Thimbleberry is found in various habitats, it prefers open and moist sites. It could be found in riparian zones, shrublands, coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. It is not tolerable to waterlogging. It is mostly found in well-drained upper floodplains or lower floodplains. The plant has white flowers which attracts birds and butterflies.
History
It extends from East to Rocky Mountains and to the Great Lakes Region discontinuously. It is distributed to Alaska, Ontario, Michigan and South to Northern regions of Mexico. It is commonly grown in open, stream banks, wooded hillsides, borders, canyons and roadsides.
Plant
Thimbleberry is a deciduous, perennial, erect, upright shrub growing to 1-8 feet height and 1.5 centimeters (0.59 inches) in diameter. Leaves are alternate, temate, maple shaped, toothed; green above and white-tomentose beneath which is 7-10 cm long. Flowers are white, rose shaped; 4-5 cm across and 5-6 mm long. Fruits are ovoid and cup shaped. The stems are red, thorn less, zigzag, 2-15 mm in diameter and 1.5-2 cm wide.
