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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Ribes speciosum (Fuchsia flowering currant)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

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.

 

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: 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: Red
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Nov , Dec

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Coastal areas of c. & s. CA
Native Habitat: Brushy, shaded canyons below 1500 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil 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 Bees

This 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. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 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 Plants
FNA: Find Ribes speciosum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes speciosum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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