Native to Northern America, Salmonberry is a shrub growing to 1–4 metres tall, with perennial, not biennial woody stems that are covered with fine prickles. The leaves are trifoliate (with three leaflets), 7–22 cm long, the terminal leaflet larger than the two side leaflets. Leaf margins are toothed.

Flowers are 2–3 cm in diameter, with five pinkish-purple petals; they are produced from early spring to early summer. The berries ripen from early May to late July  (later in cooler climates), and resembles a large glossy yellow to orange-red raspberry 1.5–2 cm long with many drupelets.

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Salmonberries are found in moist forests and stream margins, especially in coastal forests. In open areas they often form large thickets, and thrive in the open spaces under stands of red alder (Alnus rubra).