Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Thimbleberry - TreeTime.ca

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) vs Thimbleberry

Elaeagnus commutata

Rubus parviflorus

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Silverberry (Wolf Willow)
Thimbleberry

Silverberry (also known as Wolf Willow) is a common native North American shrub. This beautiful ornamental plant has characteristic silver leaves and fragrant yellow flowers.

Its silver berries remain on the branches through the winter. Silverberry is cold hardy and has some ability as a nitrogen fixer. It can grow on dry to moist sandy/gravel soils. This plant is very low maintenance.

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.

Silverberry (Wolf Willow) Quick Facts

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 4a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, 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: high
Suckering: none


Foliage: silvery leaves
Foliage: Soft leaves up to 8 inches across
Fall colour: gold
Flowers: yellow
Flowers: white, showy
Berries: silver, edible
Berries: edible, red, similar to raspberries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, YT, NT, NU
Native to: AB, BC, ON
Other Names: american silverberry, silver berry, wolf willow
Other Names: thimbleberry, western thimbleberry