Arnold Hawthorn vs Thimbleberry - TreeTime.ca

Arnold Hawthorn vs Thimbleberry

Crataegus arnoldiana

Rubus parviflorus

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Arnold Hawthorn
Thimbleberry

Arnold Hawthorn is a low-branched tree favored by wildlife and landscapers. This tree's beautiful white flowers and bright red berries make it an attractive ornamental in anyone's yard. Arnold Hawthorn is also used in windbreaks and riparian planting.

Despite its thorns, Arnold Hawthorn is a popular choice of food and shelter for deer and birds. Humans can also eat these berries fresh or preserved, but Arnold Hawthorn will not have high yields until it matures at 5-8 years.

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.

Arnold Hawthorn Quick Facts

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: none


Foliage: contains thorns
Foliage: Soft leaves up to 8 inches across
Fall colour: yellow
Fall colour: gold
Bark: gray to brown
Flowers: white
Flowers: white, showy
Berries: red pomes about 1 cm in diameter
Berries: edible, red, similar to raspberries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, ON
Other Names: thimbleberry, western thimbleberry