Common Snowberry vs Thimbleberry - TreeTime.ca

Common Snowberry vs Thimbleberry

Symphoricarpos albus

Rubus parviflorus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

(new stock expected: fall of 2027)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Common Snowberry
Thimbleberry

Common Snowberry is a small deciduous shrub with characteristic white to pink flowers and clusters of white fruit.

This North American native species is very adaptable, and can be used for erosion control in riparian and restoration areas. Snowberry's fruit attracts wildlife, and livestock can consume the berries without issue.

Thimbleberry is an ornamental shrub with large, green maple-like-leaves. Flowers are attractive, fragrant, and turn into red-raspberry-like berries. The berries are good for jams, cakes, breads, muffins etc. If you remove the berry, the core resembles a thimble, giving this shrub its namesake.

Common Snowberry Quick Facts

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: none

Toxicity: berries toxic to humans

Foliage: Soft leaves up to 8 inches across
Fall colour: gold
Bark: red-brown shredded bark
Flowers: pink to white flowers in spring
Flowers: white, showy
Berries: white waxy berries
Berries: edible, red, similar to raspberries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NT
Native to: AB, BC, ON
Other Names: common snowberry
Other Names: thimbleberry, western thimbleberry