Native Plants

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Smith, R.W.

Ribes hirtellum

Ribes hirtellum Michx.

Hairystem Gooseberry, Hairy-stem Gooseberry, Northern Gooseberry

Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)

Synonym(s): Grossularia hirtella, Ribes hirtellum var. calcicola, Ribes hirtellum var. saxosum, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. calcicola, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. hirtellum, Ribes oxyacanthoides var. saxosum

USDA Symbol: RIHI

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

A shrubby plant 2-5 ft. tall. Branches have no prickles or very short, slender ones. The palmately lobed leaves are either smooth or softly hairy. Flowers, occuring in small clusters, are greenish-white to pink and are followed by purple berries.

From the Image Gallery

1 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Fruit: Greenish to purplish to black.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Green , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: CT , IA , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , SD , VT , WI , WV
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC , SK
Native Distribution: Lab. to Man., s. to MD, PA, n. IL & in s.e. IA
Native Habitat: Moist, rocky woods; cliffs; bogs & fens

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil Description: Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Not recommended; carries disease which kills white pine.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Berries are favorites among birds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC				FAC	FAC		FACW	FACW	FAC

This information is derived from: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (2023). 2022 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. https://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/. Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

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 hirtellum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ribes hirtellum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes hirtellum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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