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Ribes menziesii
Ribes menziesii Pursh
Canyon Gooseberry, Chaparral Currant
Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: RIME
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Canyon Gooseberry is an aromatic, prickly, loosely branched, 3-6 ft. shrub with velvety leaves; showy, maroon, purple or white flowers; and purple berries.
From the Image Gallery
No images of this plant
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Fruit: Purple.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink , Yellow , PurpleBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: CA , ORNative Distribution: CA Coast Ranges & Sierras into s. OR
Native Habitat: Shrubby or wooded canyons or flats
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry soils.
Conditions Comments: Summer deciduous under heat or drought stress. Mulching will help. Direct watering in summer will cause death by root rot.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Propagation by seed in possible.Seed Collection: Seeds need to be picked or stripped as soon as they are ripe to lessen losses to birds. Maceration and flotation can be used to extract the seeds.
Seed Treatment: Natural germination normally occurs in the spring following dispersal. Most members of the genus require at least one, fairly lengthy stratification period to break dormancy.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ribes menziesii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ribes menziesii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes menziesii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-05Research By: TWC Staff