Salmonberry is an erect, mostly unarmed, branching shrub that grows to 4 m tall and can form dense thickets. The twigs have a characteristic zig-zag, and often bear scattered prickles. The bark is medium brown and shreddy. The leaves are alternate and deciduous, with the 3 leaflets dark green and toothed. The flowers are pinkish to magenta, large (4 cm in diameter) and borne singly or in small clusters. The fruits are raspberries (core stays on the plant when the fruits are picked), yellow to orange and edible, but can be insipid or bitter. Salmonberry is very common in moist to wet forests, disturbed sites, and streambanks at low to subalpine elevations.