Template:Italic title This article discussed cultivation, uses and preservation of Ribes divaricatum.

Taxonomy

Family: Grossulariaceae

Genus: Ribes

Species: R. divaricatum

Varieties

3 recognized:

  • R. d. var. divaricatum
  • R. d. var. parishii
  • R. d. var. pubiflorum

Common names

  • Spreading-branched gooseberry (Royal Horticultural Society accepted name).[1]
  • Spreading gooseberry.[2]
  • Worcesterberry.[1]
  • North American Worcesterberry.[2]
  • Coast(al) Black Gooseberry.[2]
  • Parish's gooseberry.[2]
  • Straggly gooseberry.[2]
  • Coast Gooseberry.[3]
  • Wild Black Gooseberry.[3]
  • Wild Gooseberry.[4]
  • Oregon Stachelbeere.[3]

Etymology

From Latin divarico meaning "spread out"

Range

It is native to western North America, from British Columbia to California.[4]

History

Some Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest foraged the berries.[4] The bark and other parts had medicinal uses.

Morphology

Mature height approximately 1.7 - 3.4 m tall with a maximum spread of 1 - 1.5m.[4][5] Deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub.[5] The woody branches have 1 - 3 woody thorns at each leaf node.[4]

From the leaf nodes, Leaves are borne on petioles and are palmate and edged with teeth, and are up to 6cm long.[4]

The flowers take the form of small, hanging flower clusters. THey are greenish - purple.[5]

Behaviour

Growth habit is of a shrub. It is perennial and deciduous, becoming dormant in winter.

Reproduction

Self-fertile (one plant will fruit by itself).[5]

Hardiness

USDA Hardiness Zone 4.[5]

Soil Type

Tolerates most soil types.[5]

Soil pH

Shade Preference

Shade Tolerance

Aspect

Exposure

Propagation

Hardwood cuttings (i.e. from fully matured stems) can be taken in late autumn (during dormancy).[5]

The shrub can send out suckers, which can be propagated by carefully digging out the root and cutting it from the main plant.

Maintenance

Watering

Low water requirements.

Pruning

Problems

Harvest

Berries start green and turn black when ripe.

Preservation

Uses

  • Fruit - fruits are edible by humans
  • Hedging - large thorns can make this plant suitable in hedges to deter animals.[5]
  • Bee plant - attracts bees and other insect pollinators.[5]
  • Cultivation of crosses and hybrids - e.g. R. divaricatum was used in the creation of the "Jostaberry" plant.W
  • Graft stock for gooseberries and currants.[3]

Nutritional Values

Cooking

References

Template:Reflist

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