Thimbleberry vs Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry) - TreeTime.ca

Thimbleberry vs Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry)

Rubus pubescens

Rubus parviflorus

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry)
Thimbleberry

Dewberry (Rubus pubescens) is a native, low-growing perennial that spreads by creeping stems to form a natural groundcover. In spring, it bears small white flowers that attract pollinators, followed by bright red edible berries resembling tiny raspberries. They are an important food source for birds and mammals.

Widespread across Canada, Dewberry serves as a larval host plant for butterflies such as the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), adding to its ecological value. It is a suitable choice for naturalization, pollinator gardens, habitat plantings, and ecological restoration projects.

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.

Dewberry (Dwarf Raspberry) Quick Facts

Thimbleberry Quick Facts

Zone: 1b
Zone: 4a
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Height: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright, trailing
Spreading: stolons - medium
Suckering: none


Foliage: Soft leaves up to 8 inches across
Fall colour: reddish or purplish
Fall colour: gold
Flowers: small, white
Flowers: white, showy
Bloom time: late spring to early summer
Berries: red, edible
Berries: edible, red, similar to raspberries
Harvest: mid-summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Native to: AB, BC, ON
Other Names: creeping red raspberry, dwarf raspberry, dwarf red blackberry, dwarf red raspberry, trailing raspberry
Other Names: thimbleberry, western thimbleberry