Native Plants
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Ribes speciosum
Ribes speciosum Pursh
Fuchsia Flowering Currant, Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry
Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)
Synonym(s): Grossularia speciosa
USDA Symbol: RISP
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
A 4-10 ft., nearly evergreen shrub with long, spiny branches; small, glossy, dark-green leaves; and pendent, red, fuschia-like flowers followed by prickly berries.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Semi-evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Fruit: Orangish red.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: RedBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Nov , Dec
Distribution
USA: CANative Distribution: Coastal areas of c. & s. CA
Native Habitat: Brushy, shaded canyons below 1500 ft.
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Description: Well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Summer deciduous if under drought stress. Mulch to hold water. Very showy in flower but a drawback is its thorns.
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.
Commercially Avail: yes
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
Bibliography
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. WasowskiSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ribes speciosum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ribes speciosum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes speciosum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-20Research By: TWC Staff