It is a small herb that grows in subalpine and alpine habitats above 900m throughout Tasmania,[1] and bears edible fruit.

The palmately compound leaves are composed of three pinnatipartite leaflets (one main one flanked by two smaller ones either side), with very long petioles.

[7] It is frost hardy, which is essential to alpine environments, due to the harsh weather and exposed conditions at high altitude.

This species is suitable for domestic cultivation, and R. gunnianus may be a good choice for people with limited space to grow plants, because it is quite small and would take up little room.

Rubus gunnianus has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List, however, it is quite common in alpine habitats throughout Tasmania; therefore no conservation concern is required[10] at present.