Salmonberry

Did you know

• It is named for the salmon-egg color and texture of its ripe berries, not for any association with fish.
• The berries were traditionally eaten with salmon by Pacific Northwest Indigenous peoples, hence an alternate naming theory.
• Its bright magenta flowers are among the earliest to bloom in Pacific Northwest forests, sometimes appearing in February.
• Rufous hummingbirds time their spring migration north to coincide with salmonberry bloom for nectar.
• The young shoots can be peeled and eaten raw, tasting somewhat like a mild, watery cucumber.

Color meanings

Uses

• edible berries
• wildlife habitat
• streamside restoration
• native food gardens