Thimbleberry | Native Plant Feature 06

Thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus by Laura Watson


Welcome back to the Featured Native Plant Series, where we take a closer look at the incredible wild flora of British Columbia through both a botanical and artistic lens. Today’s plant is one you’ve likely encountered along trails or forest edges—soft, sprawling, and bearing bright red fruit in early summer. Thimbleberries were on my childhood list of 'safe berries to eat,' and I have many fond memories of foraging for them from a young age on northern Vancouver Island. With a slightly fuzzy texture reminiscent of a peach, they taste just like jam. Let’s explore the thimbleberry.

Thimbleberry, Rubus parviflorus, Photo by Laura Watson


Scientific Name, Common Names & Family

Scientific Name: Rubus parviflorus

Common Names: Thimbleberry, Western Thimbleberry

Plant Family: Rosaceae (Rose Family)

As a member of the rose family, thimbleberry shares many traits with its relatives, such as five-petaled flowers and compound fruits. Unlike many other Rubus species, however, it has no thorns, making it a welcome presence for foragers and hikers.

Video still from "How to paint a Thimbleberry" class in The Watercolour Garden


Habitat, Ecology, and Growing Season

Thimbleberry is native to western North America, thriving from California up through British Columbia and into parts of Alaska. It favours moist forest edges, coastal bluffs, and clearings. This hardy shrub forms loose colonies and spreads via rhizomes, often creating dense thickets that help stabilise soil and provide habitat for wildlife.

Flowering typically occurs from late spring to early summer. The large, soft, white blooms attract a wide array of native pollinators, while the bright red, hollow berries ripen by midsummer and are eaten by birds, bears, and other animals.

Thimbleberry close up


Plant Structure

Leaves: Broad, velvety, and palmate (maple-like), often up to 20 cm across.

Flowers: Five white petals with a central cluster of yellow stamens, resembling wild roses.

Fruit: Dome-shaped and red, composed of tiny drupelets; soft and hollow like a thimble.

Stems: Erect, thornless, and covered in soft hairs.

Thimbleberry painting in progress by Laura Watson

Illustration Tip: When creating ink drawings of thimbleberry, focus on the bold shapes of the leaves and the delicate central structure of the flower. Label parts such as leaf lobes, petiole, stamens, and drupelets for botanical accuracy. Consider including a simple dissection of the flower and a detailed sketch of a berry, as well as a flower to emulate a transitional style botanical illustration.

Traditional & Ecological Importance

Thimbleberry has long been valued by Indigenous peoples across its range. The berries were eaten fresh, dried into cakes, or used in sauces. The large leaves were used medicinally, made into poultices or teas to treat wounds, stomach ailments, and other conditions.

Ecologically, thimbleberry supports biodiversity by offering shelter and nourishment to pollinators, insects, birds, and mammals. Its quick growth and spreading habit also make it useful for erosion control and forest regeneration.

Botanical Painting Inspiration

The thimbleberry’s textural contrast between fuzzy leaves, delicate flowers, and vivid fruit makes it a delightful subject for botanical study. In my latest class at The Watercolour Garden, we walk through the process of inking our drawing (transferred from a reference photo) and painting Rubus parviflorus using watercolour, paying close attention to subtle colour shifts and structure.


References

Plants of Coastal British Columbia by Pojar & MacKinnon


E-Flora BC


Native Plant Society of BC


Explore my Featured Native Plants series and join The Watercolour Garden to learn how to illustrate botanicals in ink and watercolour.

Interested in a FREE Guide featuring 10 of my native plants series illustrations?

 Download my FREE Native Plants Guide Here

Happy painting,
Laura 

Laura Watson
Botanical Artist & Instructor
Founder of The Watercolour Garden
www.thewatercolourgarden.com

All illustrations in this article are my original watercolour paintings.

Location: Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Comments

  1. Laura Watson8 August 2025 at 17:10

    Have you ever had difficulty painting white flowers?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 Tips for Keeping a Sketchbook with Nicoline Mann

Image
Botanicals & Landscape by Nicoline Mann Hi, I’m Nicoline. I'm an artist deeply inspired by the natural world, especially animals and birds, and the fleeting beauty of small, precious moments. My sketchbook practice is an extension of my love for these connections—it’s where I explore, experiment, and savour the joys of creating without pressure. I don’t confine myself to one sketchbook or one style of book. I have several on the go at any time, each serving a unique purpose. My tools vary depending on what feels right for the page or moment. I use everything from dollar-store sketchbooks prepped with gesso to high-quality watercolour books. There’s no limit to what we can create when we let go of expectations and allow ourselves to explore freely. Sketchbook pages by Nicoline Mann Sketching My World My sketchbooks are a collection of snapshots from my life and the natural world. On my forest walks with my dog, I document the tiny flowers growing along the forest floor or the bi...
Read more

Edith Holden: The Edwardian Botanical Artist Behind "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady"

Image
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady , pages 103-104, photo by Laura Watson, 2024 The name Edith Holden may not have been widely recognized in her time, but today, she is celebrated as one of the most beloved Edwardian botanical artists. Her work, The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady , beautifully captures the flora and fauna of early 20th-century England, inspiring modern-day nature enthusiasts, artists, and environmentalists alike. This article delves into Holden's life, her artistic style, and the enduring legacy of her work. Early Life and Education Edith Holden was born on September 26, 1871, in Kings Norton, Birmingham, England. She grew up in a creative and supportive family, with both of her parents encouraging artistic pursuits. Holden's artistic journey began at the Birmingham School of Art, where she studied painting and illustration. Here, she developed the skills that would later define her career as a botanical artist. The late 19th and early 20th centuries we...
Read more

3 Botanical Painting Tips with Anne Butera

Image
 Garden Painting, Anne Butera Welcome to my new Artist Feature series ! In this series of blog posts, I have invited other artists to share some of their best tips with you to help you reach your watercolour goals! There are so many wonderful and talented artists to learn from. Let's get inspired together, I hope you enjoy this article by Anne Butera. Anne Butera is a self-taught artist who works primarily in watercolour but also loves challenging herself to try new things, savouring the freedom and joy she finds within the pages of her sketchbooks. She strives to seek out and celebrate life’s little joys and daily graces in her life, her writing and her art. Anne is passionate about encouraging others to embrace their creativity and discover their joy. Her art and writing have been published in multiple magazines and in the book Botanica. She writes the blog My Giant Strawberry and the Substack In an Artist’s Garden and she teaches in person and online. Anne painting in the stud...
Read more