Salmonberry
'Fall color / leaf senescence'Rubus spectabilis
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native
Last updated
Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) is a broadleaf deciduous shrub in the Rosaceae family native to western North America from Alaska to California, east to Idaho. It reaches 3-10 ft tall with medium growth and produces red to rose flowers solitary or in clusters of 2-4, sometimes appearing before leaf unfold. It occurs in moist woodland habitats.
Salmonberry is hardy in zones 5a-8b and tolerates full sun to shade with moist soil (pH 4.5-8.5) and moderate water. Thirty-one diseases are documented with no pest records. The fruit has a moderate edibility rating (3/5) and moderate medicinal value (2/5).
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Site Requirements
Ornamental Interest
Field Observations
Active Conidial Spread
Root Colonization Period
Active Infection & Secondary Spread
Active Below-ground Growth
+ 2 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Diseases: Regionally Documented (29)
Phenological Calendar
As of June 4, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 2458.5 to 2700.8 GDD₃₂. Salmonberry has passed 'fall color / leaf senescence' (1284 GDD₃₂).
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Jun 4, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 2,701 | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,695 | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 2,637 | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,598 | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 2,564 | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 2,560 | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 2,459 | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | — | — |
View full calendar (5 stages)
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| 'Bud break' BBCH '07' | 719 | '' |
| 'Leaf emergence' BBCH '11' | 935 | '' |
| 'Flower buds visible' BBCH '51' | 1020 | '' |
| 'Bloom' BBCH '61' | 1054 Observed | '' |
| ● 'Fall color / leaf senescence' BBCH '93' NOW | 1284 | '' |
Sources: 'NPN citizen science observations (WA+OR), n=100, median. services.usanpn.org' ; 'Field observation, Issaquah, WA' About GDD₃₂ →
Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Jun 4, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Jun 20, 2026, then climate normals.