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Rubus spectabilis

Phonetic Spelling
ROO-bus speck-TAB-ih-liss
Description

Salmonberry is a woodland thicket-forming shrub in the Rosaceae (rose) family native to the western U.S.A. and Canada.  It is found in low, moist woods, stream banks and mt. slopes in moist to dry sites in sun to shade and can spread aggressively. It has high value as a food source for pollinators, mammals and songbirds and the thickets provide nesting sites and protection. It grows 3- 12 feet tall with erect to arching stems that have many prickles, especially on the ends of new growth.

The bright pink flowers in the early spring to early summer are followed by an aggregate drupe that looks like yellow to red raspberries. The berries and young leaves are both edible for humans raw or cooked.

More information on Rubus.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#arching#deciduous#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#shade garden#upright form#showy fruits#deer browsing plant#prickly#pollinator plant#orange fruits#nesting sites#flowers early spring#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#mammals#nectar plant early summer#nectar plant midspring#partial shade tolerant#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#arching#deciduous#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#shade garden#upright form#showy fruits#deer browsing plant#prickly#pollinator plant#orange fruits#nesting sites#flowers early spring#bird friendly#nectar plant late spring#mammals#nectar plant early summer#nectar plant midspring#partial shade tolerant#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rubus
    Species:
    spectabilis
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Fruits were used by Native Americans and the plant was used as an astringent.
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Layering
    Root Cutting
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western Canada and the U.S.A.
    Distribution:
    AK, CA, ID, OR, WA Canada: BC
    Wildlife Value:
    Important nectar source for pollinators. Birds and small mammals eat the fruits. Deer, elk and rabits will browse the leaves and stems. Thickets provide nesting sites and protection for birds and mammals.
    Play Value:
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Wildlife Nesting
    Edibility:
    Fruits are edible fresh or cooked. Young shoots are eaten raw or cooked.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
    Appendage:
    Prickles
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Aggregate
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Yellow to orange to red fruits
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Up to 1.5 inches, magenta-pink flowers with 5 petals bloom from March to June.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    New growth has prickles and in winter turn golden-brown to rust-red color.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Erosion
    Problems:
    Weedy