Thimbleberry vs Prelude Raspberry - TreeTime.ca

Thimbleberry vs Prelude Raspberry

Rubus x Prelude

Rubus parviflorus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Prelude Raspberry
Thimbleberry

Prelude Raspberry is one of the earliest ripening raspberries. As early as June you can expect red berries that are delectably sweet and perfect for fresh eating, baking, and preserves. It is disease resistant, cold hardy, and vigorous in nature. Expect raspberries one year after planting.

The Prelude Raspberry is a fast-growing floricane. This means that raspberries will not grow on canes the year they first grow. The mature canes they do grow on, however, produce more berries than primocane varieties.

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.

Prelude Raspberry Quick Facts

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 4a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: none
Maintenance: high


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


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