Rubus spectabilis
Salmonberry
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry) is a native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by uniquely distinguished by magenta flowers and coastal habitat.
Salmonberry is a California native shrub found in northern coastal regions, northwestern Klamath Ranges, northern outer North Coast Ranges, northern central Coast Ranges, and western San Francisco Bay Area in moist woodland edges and streambanks at elevations generally below 500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces magenta flowers 15 to 22 millimeters long with elliptic to narrow-obovate petals. Growing 2 to 4 meters tall with few stout, slender, straight prickles, it forms an erect shrub with stems 3 to 15 millimeters in diameter. Its leaves are typically compound with three leaflets, the terminal leaflet widely ovate, coarse-double-toothed, and having an acute to acuminate tip. The fruit develops as a raspberry-type cluster ranging from yellow to orange to red.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 10 species; uniquely distinguished by magenta flowers and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist areas, especially edges of woodland, streambanks
Elevation: generally < 500 m
California counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Sierra
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Rubus spectabilis blooms Mar-Jun.
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 spectabilis native to California?
Yes. Rubus spectabilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rubus spectabilis bloom?
Rubus spectabilis blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Rubus spectabilis grow?
Rubus spectabilis occurs in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Francisco and other counties, at elevations of generally < 500 m.
What plant family does Rubus spectabilis belong to?
Rubus spectabilis is in the Rosaceae family, genus Rubus.
What habitat does Rubus spectabilis grow in?
Rubus spectabilis grows in Moist areas, especially edges of woodland, streambanks.
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.