The stems are stout, as much as nine feet tall (although often shorter), and bear short, straight prickles. The leaves are divided into three, toothy leaflets, as much as six inches in length. An inch in width, individual flowers composed of five petals mature to a red or sometimes yellow fruit. They are edible if rather "flat" in taste.

Most typically found in partial shade on moist ground, salmonberry is nonetheless adaptable to a variety of sites.

These plants are grown from cuttings.