Thimbleberry
Rubus parviflorus
part shade
low
Fast; Prefers moist, fertile soil with good drainage.
4–8ft tall
Mar-May
Deciduous
Friendly
Prized
Berries eaten fresh or cooked into jam or preserves
Supports up to 96 butterfly and moth species in Mediterranean California
Riparian and mixed evergreen forest understory from the north coast and Cascade Range to the Sierra Nevada, below 6000 ft elevation, extending to British Columbia.
Planting
Plant your thimbleberry in partial shade - the north side of your house or under dappled tree cover works well. It thrives in moist, fertile soil with good drainage, so amend heavy clay with compost before planting. Space plants 3-4 feet apart since they spread via underground rhizomes and can form dense stands. Spring is the ideal planting season in the Bay Area.
After Planting
Water weekly for the first summer to establish the plant, then cut back to once a month or less once established - thimbleberry is drought-tolerant once settled in. This deciduous shrub will go dormant in winter and regrow from the base in spring; you can prune back canes in late winter to control spread and shape. The biggest mistake people make is overwatering an established plant or planting it in full sun, which it dislikes - keep it in partial shade and let the soil dry between waterings after year one.
Mammals
Year-round browse, especially palatable new spring growth