Rubus parviflorus
Thimbleberry, Thimbleberry
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Rubus parviflorus (Thimbleberry) is a native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by uniquely distinguished by thornless shrub habit and palmate leaves.
Thimbleberry is a native shrub found in California (except Great Valley and Desert regions) in moist semi-shaded areas, especially woodland edges at elevations of 20 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces white flowers 14 to 22 millimeters long with widely elliptic to round petals. Growing 0.5 to 2 meters tall with erect, smooth stems up to 6 millimeters in diameter, it lacks prickles and can be slightly hairy. Its simple leaves are palmately 5-lobed with coarse teeth, covered in fine gray hair on the undersides, and feature triangular-lanceolate stipules. The fruit is a bright red raspberry-type, densely covered in soft hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 12 species; uniquely distinguished by thornless shrub habit and palmate leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common; moist semi-shaded areas, especially edges of woodland
Elevation: 20-2500 m
California counties: Humboldt, San Mateo, San Bernardino, Mariposa, Tulare, Marin, Plumas, Butte, Riverside, Tuolumne, Modoc, San Diego, Siskiyou, Fresno, Contra Costa, Placer, El Dorado, Sonoma, Los Angeles, Shasta, Mendocino, Kern, Del Norte, Nevada, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Tehama, Monterey, Sierra, Santa Cruz, Amador, Inyo, Lassen, Mono, Glenn, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Trinity, Madera, Colusa, Calaveras, Alpine, San Benito, Napa, Ventura, Lake
Outside California: +- to southern Alaska, Ontario, New Mexico, northern Mexico.
Bloom period
Rubus parviflorus blooms Mar-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Toxicodendron: Rubus has palmate leaves with 3-5 leaflets spreading from one point; poison oak has 3 leaflets arranged along a stem.; vs Ribes: Rubus stems are thorny or bristly canes; currants/gooseberries are unarmed or have sharp spines at nodes only.; vs Rosa: Rubus leaves are palmate (fingers from palm); rose leaves are pinnate (leaflets along a central stem).; vs Acer: Rubus has compound leaves with separate leaflets; maple leaves are single lobed blades.; vs Fragaria: Rubus grows as tall, arching canes; strawberries form low runners with flower stalks rising from base.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rubus parviflorus native to California?
Yes. Rubus parviflorus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rubus parviflorus bloom?
Rubus parviflorus blooms Mar-Aug.
Where in California does Rubus parviflorus grow?
Rubus parviflorus occurs in Humboldt, San Mateo, San Bernardino, Mariposa, Tulare, Marin, Plumas, Butte and other counties, at elevations of 20-2500 m.
What plant family does Rubus parviflorus belong to?
Rubus parviflorus is in the Rosaceae family, genus Rubus.
What habitat does Rubus parviflorus grow in?
Rubus parviflorus grows in Common; moist semi-shaded areas, especially edges of woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.