Bloomipedia
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)
Photo: Jay Brasher via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) is a low shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Thimbleberry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 9 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

19states where USDA records it
9Bloomipedia state lists include it
46,278U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Quick look

Rubus parviflorus, the fruit of which is commonly called the thimbleberry, western thimbleberry or redcap, is a species of Rubus with large hairy leaves and no thorns.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 19 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 4 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 15,980 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #44 among the 178 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 10,944 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #4 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 7,669 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #3 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (3,402 records)
Bloom time in the 9 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
CaliforniaNativeApril–July15,980
WashingtonNativeMay–July10,944
OregonNativeMay–June7,669
MinnesotaNativeJune1,939
MontanaNativeJune–July1,845
MichiganNativeJune1,761
IdahoNativefew records (38)1,127
UtahNativeMay–July842
WyomingNativefew records (29)775

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 9 states.
See each state
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Oregon. OAR 603-073-0070
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Rubus pedatus (“Creeping Rubus”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records thimbleberry in 19 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne.

Washington counties with USDA records: Asotin, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Grant, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington, Yamhill.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Thimbleberry a medium shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 4.8 to 7.2 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
4.8 to 7.2
Minimum temperature tolerated
-28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
100
Annual precipitation range
20 to 45 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Rapid
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Red · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability
Contracting Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for RUPA. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 263 counties across 17 states; the most are in California (42), Washington (33), Oregon (27).

Other Rubus on Bloomipedia (14): Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry, Salmonberry, Southern dewberry, Purple-flowered raspberry, Armenian blackberry, Swamp dewberry, Rocky Mountain raspberry, Five-leaf dwarf bramble.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Chokecherry, White meadowsweet, Ocean spray.

More California flowers

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)

Toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: June–August
Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in CA: April–July
Trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus)

Trailing blackberry

Rubus ursinus

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–May

Sources