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

Taxonomy

Family: Grossulariaceae

Genus: Ribes

Species: R. divaricatum

There are 3 synonyms:

  • Grossularia divaricata (Douglas) Coville and Britton.[1][2]
  • Grossularia irrigua S.Watson.[2]
  • Ribes suksdorfii A.Heller.[2]

Varieties

3 recognized.[1] Only latter 2 recognized by some.[2]

R. d. var. divaricatum - White petals. Found in Britich Columbia, Oregon, and Washington state.[1]

R. d. var. parishii - Also termed Ribes parishii, or Grossularia parishii,[1] common name "Parish’s gooseberry ". Petals pink to red.[1] Last seen 1980, thought to be extinct due to dry years, altered stream flows, human‐caused fires, habitat loss, and invasive species.[3]

R. d. var. pubiflorum - White petals. Found in Oregon and California, USA.[1]

Common names

  • Spreading-branched gooseberry (Royal Horticultural Society accepted name).[4]
  • Spreading gooseberry.[5]
  • Worcesterberry.[4]
  • North American Worcesterberry.[5]
  • Coast(al) Black Gooseberry.[5]
  • Straggly gooseberry.[5]
  • Coast Gooseberry.[6]
  • Wild Black Gooseberry.[6]
  • Wild Gooseberry.[7]
  • Oregon Stachelbeere.[6]

Etymology

From Latin divarico meaning "spread out"

Range

It is native to western North America, from British Columbia to California.[7] It has been introduced and is established in the wild in Norway,[2] and the UK.[8]

History

Some Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest foraged the berries.[7] The bark and other parts had medicinal uses.[7] The first published description of this species was by David Douglas in 1830.[9]

Morphology

Mature height approximately 1.7 - 3.4 m tall with a maximum spread of 1 - 1.5m.[7][10] Deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub.[10] The woody branches have 0 - 3 woody thorns at each leaf node.[7]

From the leaf nodes, Leaves are borne on 1 - 3cm long petioles and are palmate and edged with teeth, and are up to 6cm long.[7][1]

The flowers take the form of small, hanging flower clusters,[7] or single flowers each of 2 - 4 cm in length.[1] They are greenish - purple.[10] with long, protruding stamen resembling fushias.[7]

Fruit is purplish-black (when ripe), subglobose (nearly round), and glabrous (hairless). Each fruit is 6 - 12mm in diameter.[1]

Behaviour

Growth habit is of a shrub. It is perennial and deciduous, becoming dormant in winter but with persistent woody stems above ground.

Reproduction

Flowering occurs in Spring.[7] Self-fertile (one plant will fruit by itself).[10]

Hardiness

USDA Hardiness Zone 4 - 8.[5]

Soil Type

Tolerates most soil types.[10] Ideal soil type is moisture retentive but well-drained loam.[7]

Soil pH

Tolerance range is 4.8 - 8.2.[7]

Shade Preference

Full sun.[10]

Shade Tolerance

Tolerates moderate shade (approximately 20% shade / 1-2 hours of direct sun).[10]

Aspect

Exposure

Propagation

Hardwood cuttings (i.e. from fully matured stems) can be taken in late autumn (during dormancy).[10]

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

Maintenance

The plant is moderately easy to care for.[7]

Watering

Low water requirements.[7]

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,[10] such as deer.[7]
  • Bee plant - attracts bees and other insect pollinators.[10]
  • Attracts other wildlife - e.g. butterflies and brids.[7]
  • 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.[6]

Nutritional Values

Cooking

References

Template:Reflist

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