Salmonberry grows naturally all over the US. Sometimes confused with thimbleberry but both are important food sources to native Americans. The leaves are antiemetic, astringent, blood tonic, and stomachic. An infusion is used internally in the treatment of stomach complaints, diarrhea and dysentery, anemia, the spitting up of blood and to treat vomiting. They can be cooked like asparagus. The shoots are rich in vitamin C. Flowers – raw.
“known as rubus spectabilis”
A member of the rose family, the salmonberry plant (Rubus spectabilis) is related to the raspberry, nagoonberry, wild strawberry, thimbleberry, and cloudberry. But do not confuse salmonberries with cloudberries, occasionally referred to as low bush salmonberries. The plant is native to the west coast of North America from west-central Alaska to California, inland as far as Idaho. Salmonberries were normally picked and eaten raw or mixed with meat or dried salmon. Other parts of the plant, including the young shoots and the bark, were collected and eaten or used for medicinal purposes. Today the berries are made into jams and jellies.”
History
Salmonberry is considered to have originated from the west coast of North America from west-central Alaska to California, inland as far as Idaho. It is especially abundant on moist sites in the Coast Ranges of Washington and Oregon, becoming less common inland and to the south. But nowadays it is cultivated throughout the world due to its palatable taste.
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Salmonberry Health Benefits
Many health benefits can be derived from the Salmonberries:
- These berries are completely cholesterol-free.
- They do not contain any saturated fats.
- Their high manganese contents make them beneficial for humans.
- The fruits are also a rich source of vitamins C and K.
- The leaves and roots of these shrubs have astringent properties.
- Their root bark is astringent, analgesic, stomachic, and disinfectant.
Edible Uses
- The sweet berries can be eaten raw.
- They are often used for flavoring candies.
- Jams and jellies are made from the Salmonberry following simple recipes.
- They are also used for making wine and other alcoholic beverages.
- Young shoots of these plants are eaten both raw and cooked like asparagus.
- The sprouts can be cooked with salmon or many other fishes.
- Their leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for tea.
Medicinal Uses
- A poultice made from their leaves is used for dressing burns.
- The decoction of the roots is used for treating various stomach complaints.
- The decoction is also useful for lessening labor pain.
- The bark of these plants is powdered to be used for treating burns and soars.
- A poultice made from the bark is applied to ease toothache and to cure open wounds.
Other Uses
- The fruits are sometimes used for obtaining a bluish or purple dye.
- The plants of this species are often grown as ornamental plants.
Using Salmonberry during Pregnancy
It is advisable to avoid consuming these fruits in any form during pregnancy as it may cause some complications
