Virginia Tech Dendrology

thimbleberry Rosaceae Rubus parviflorus Nutt. symbol: RUPA
Leaf: Simple, alternate, deciduous, large (3 to 10 inches in diameter) and palmately lobed (3 to 5 lobes); margins serrate, dark green and velvety on both surfaces (glandular hairs).
Flower: Perfect, complete; large (about 1 inch in diameter), broad white petals with a texture like crinkled tissue paper, occur terminally, either singly or in small clusters, appearing in early summer.
Fruit: Red raspberries (aggregate of drupelets) in the shape of a flattened dome, sparse, long hairs; edible, but taste varies. Pull free from the torus (central core), leaving a thimble-like appearance.
Twig: New stems are green and glandular; older stems have bark that is thin, tan, and papery. Unarmed.
Bark:
Form: An erect, spindly shrub that commonly grows to 6 feet tall, often forms thickets.
Looks like: purple flowering raspberry

Additional Range Information: Rubus parviflorus is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information