Thimbleberry (1 gallon)

Thimbleberry is a favorite berry of humans and wildlife. Shrub grows to 4 ft.. Has large, fuzzy maple-shaped leaves. It has white flowers in spring and later produces edible red, raspberry-like fruit. Good wildlife food. This plant likes it dryer than the salmonberry and is less vigorous and invasive. The common name describes its appearance, as it does resemble a thimble from the top, where the thimble has little indentations to push down upon the needle. Imagine a raspberry but smaller, with smaller but more numerous fruitlets. These berries are tart and may be eaten raw, or cooked and made into jam or jelly and other food items such as pemmican or fruit leather. Look for thimbleberries in the mountains, in places that are shady, moist, and cool.