Salmonberry

Scientific name

Rubus spectabilis

Description

Salmonberry is a fast growing, deciduous shrub species that typically grows between 2 and 4 m in height. The bark is shedding and gold brown colored, similar to Ninebark. The leaves are shiny, dark green colored, alternately arranged, pinnately compound with three leaflets, sometimes lobed, have sharply toothed margins, have sharply pointed tips, and have distinctive veins. The flowers are bright pink to reddish purple colored, are cup shaped, have five petals, and bloom between April and May. The fruits are yellow to orange colored, raspberry like with hollow centers, edible to humans, and ripen between May and July. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The fruits are beneficial to wildlife species, such as birds and small mammals. The roots are good for controlling erosion and stabilizing shorelines. This is one of the first native plants to produces its berries in the year. The young stems may have prickly thorns. This plant has often been chosen for stream bank and wetland restoration projects.

Planting conditions

Salmonberry grows best in moist to wet conditions with full or partial sun exposure. It prefers rich loam but can grow on a variety of soil types including clay, peat, and gravel. It tolerates periodically flooded areas, acidic soil, and light shade. This plant can be naturally found in moist forests, around marshes and swamps, in roadside ditches, and along stream or lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 3m
  • Any
  • Over 3m
• Moisture level:
  • Normal
  • Moist
  • Wet
  • Flood Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
  • Humus
  • Rocky
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
  • Bareroot
• Eco Zone:
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
  • 7a
  • 7b
  • 8a
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 2-4 m
• Spread:
  • 2 m