The Salmonberry – Pacific Northwest Beauty

Gardeners looking for an addition to a river or stream side garden would do well to consider the salmonberry bush (Rubus spectabilis). This shrub is a native of the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest of North America, where it provides cover and food for birds and delicious berries for birds and people. Like the red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum), this bush is an excellent source of nectar for hummingbirds.

Outside the native range of the salmonberry, the plant naturalizes easily and has the potential to become an invasive in wild lands. Gardeners in the UK have experienced salmonberry’s exceptional ability to form dense thickets along the stream banks there, so UK gardeners should be wary of this species.

What Does the Salmonberry Look Like?

The leaves of the salmonberry bush are a similar shape to those of the Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor), as it is in the same family. The rose family contains several garden berries, including the blackberry, raspberry (Idaeobatus spp.), and the cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus). The salmonberry leaf is often likened to the shape of a butterfly or a man’s moustache and goatee. The leaves and flowers of the salmonberry emerge quite early in the springtime, providing a welcome splash of pink color in the early spring. Although the salmonberry has thorns, these are much smaller than those of the blackberry or raspberry bush.

Salmonberry Revegetates Stream Banks

For stream side gardeners in those in areas where the salmonberry is native, the shrub’s vigourous growth is welcome. The salmonberry and the red alder (Alnus Rubra) can quickly re-vegetate a sunny stream side. The alder also adds nitrogen to the soil through the bacteria in its root nodules, further enriching the soil. Together, these plants can quickly re-vegetate a damaged stream bank or provide native food and shelter for plants and animals in the Pacific Northwest.

Salmonberry Bushes Attract Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds love the salmonberry bush. Its bright pink flowers are a beacon to the birds, who migrate back to the temperate rainforest in early spring. The Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) follows the wave of pink as it sweeps northwards. In turn, the hummingbird pollinates the flowers: a lovely example of mutualism in the temperate rainforest. Pink and red flowers such as the salmonberry attract hummingbirds and are often replicated in the design of feeders. The salmonberry is the real deal, and along with columbines, honeysuckles, and flowering currant, it is a plant that attracts hummingbirds in droves.

A Unique Edible Berry Bush

The berries of the salmonberry bush turn bright orange and move to a deep red color. They are good to eat when bright orange and sometimes taste a little bitter when they are red. The red of the ripe to overripe berry is reminiscent of the red salmon eggs of the Pacific Northwest, and this may be where the salmonberry got its name.

Salmonberry bushes have less fruit than a cultivated raspberry, but they do bear significant quantities of fruit. The berries are tart and somewhat watery, less sweet than a cultivated blackberry and less tart than a raspberry. They are a popular snack for small children as school lets out in June. Bears also enjoy eating the fruit.

For those gardeners who are looking for a beautiful streamside plant, consider the salmonberry bush. Its thickets provide nests for birds, its berries provide food, and its flowers are a beacon for migrating hummingbirds. Be sensitive to the ecology in the specific area, and check with a local garden center or garden club prior to planting, to ensure that the salmonberry is an appropriate, non-invasive species for the area.