{"id":79864,"key":"Ribes_divaricatum","title":"Ribes divaricatum","latest":{"id":1234199,"timestamp":"2026-02-23T09:56:08Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Ribes divaricatum 6622.JPG|thumb]]\n\nThis article discusses cultivation, uses and preservation of ''Ribes divaricatum''. This plant can perform excellently in a temperate climate [[forest garden]] (food forest) as part of the shrub layer.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\n== Taxonomy ==\n\nFamily: Grossulariaceae\n\nGenus: ''Ribes''\n\nSpecies: ''R. divaricatum''\n\nThere are 3 synonyms:\n\n* ''Grossularia divaricata'' (Douglas) Coville and Britton.<ref name=\"efloras\" /><ref name=\"potw\" />\t\n* ''Grossularia irrigua'' S.Watson.<ref name=\"potw\" />\n* ''Ribes suksdorfii'' A.Heller.<ref name=\"potw\" />\n\n== Varieties ==\n\n3 recognized.<ref name=\"efloras\" /> Only latter 2 recognized by some.<ref name=\"potw\" />\n\n'''''R. d. var. divaricatum''''' - White petals. Found in Britich Columbia, Oregon, and Washington state.<ref name=\"efloras\" />\t\n\n'''''R. d. var. parishii''''' - Also termed ''Ribes parishii'', or ''Grossularia parishii'',<ref name=\"efloras\" /> common name \"Parish's gooseberry \". Petals pink to red.<ref name=\"efloras\" /> Last seen 1980, thought to be extinct due to dry years, altered stream flows, human‐caused fires, habitat loss, and invasive species.<ref>[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ddi.12665 Rejmánek, M. Vascular plant extinctions in California: A critical assessment. Diversity and Distributions. 2018; 24: 129– 136. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.12665.]</ref>\n\n'''''R. d. var. pubiflorum''''' - White petals. Found in Oregon and California, USA.<ref name=\"efloras\" />\t\n\n== Common names ==\n\n* Spreading-branched gooseberry.<ref name=\"rhs\">[https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/113051/i-Ribes-divaricatum-i/Details ''Ribes divaricatum'' (Royal Horticultural Society).]</ref>\n* Spreading gooseberry.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n* Worcesterberry.<ref name=\"rhs\" />\n* North American Worcesterberry.<ref name=\"pfaf\">[https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ribes+divaricatum ''Ribes divaricatum'' (Plants For A Future).]</ref>\n* Coast(al) Black Gooseberry.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n* Straggly gooseberry.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n* Coast Gooseberry.<ref name=\"wiersema2016\" />\n* Wild Black Gooseberry.<ref name=\"wiersema2016\" />\n* Wild Gooseberry.<ref name=\"calscape\">[https://calscape.org/Ribes-divaricatum-(Spreading-Gooseberry)?srchcr=sc59bb01cc47783 Spreading Gooseberry (Calscape).]</ref>\n* Oregon Stachelbeere.<ref name=\"wiersema2016\" />\n* White-stem gooseberry.<ref>[http://www.tropicos.org/Name/29100497 ''Ribes divaricatum'' Douglas (Tropicos).]</ref>\n\n== Etymology ==\n\nFrom Latin ''divarico'' meaning \"spread out\"\n\n== Range ==\n\nIt is native to western North America, from British Columbia to California.<ref name=\"calscape\" /> It has been introduced and is established in the wild in Norway,<ref name=\"potw\">[http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:284297-2 ''Ribes divaricatum'' Douglas (Plants of the World Online).]</ref> and the UK.<ref>[https://www.gbif.org/species/2986132 \tGlobal Register of Introduced and Invasive Species.]</ref>\n\n== History ==\n\nSome Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest foraged the berries.<ref name=\"calscape\" /> The bark and other parts had medicinal uses.<ref name=\"calscape\" /> The first published description of this species was by David Douglas in 1830.<ref>Transactions, of the Horticultural Society of London, 7: 515. 1830.</ref>\n\n== Morphology ==\n\nMature height approximately 1.7 - 3.4 m tall with a maximum spread of 1 - 1.5m.<ref name=\"calscape\" /><ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> Deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub.<ref name=\"crawford2016\">Crawford, M (2016). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/creating-a-forest-garden-working-with-nature-to-grow-edible-crops/oclc/1041938577&referer=brief_results Creating a Forest Garden: working with nature to grow edible crops]. Green Books. ISBN 9781900322621.</ref> The woody branches have 0 - 3 woody thorns at each leaf node.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n\nFrom the leaf nodes, Leaves are borne on 1 - 3cm long petioles and are palmate and edged with teeth, and are up to 6cm long.<ref name=\"calscape\" /><ref name=\"efloras\" />\n\nThe flowers take the form of small, hanging flower clusters,<ref name=\"calscape\" /> or single flowers each of 2 - 4 cm in length.<ref name=\"efloras\" /> They are greenish - purple.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> with long, protruding stamen resembling fushias.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n\nFruit is purplish-black (when ripe), subglobose (nearly round), and glabrous (hairless). Each fruit is 6 - 12mm in diameter.<ref name=\"efloras\">[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250065855 ''Ribes divaricatum'' (eFloras.org).]</ref>\n\n== Behaviour ==\n\nGrowth habit is of a shrub. It is perennial and deciduous, becoming dormant in winter but with persistent woody stems above ground.\n\n== Reproduction ==\n\nFlowering occurs in April.<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> The plant is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs),<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> and is self-fertile (one plant will fruit by itself).<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> It is insect pollinated.<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> Seeds ripen between July to August.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n\n== Hardiness ==\n\nUSDA Hardiness Zone 4 - 8.<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> Hardy to about -20°c\n\n== Soil Type ==\n\nTolerates most soil types.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> Ideal soil type is moisture retentive but well-drained loam of at least moderate quality.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n\n== Soil pH ==\n\nTolerance range is 4.8 - 8.2.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n\n== Shade Preference ==\n\nFull sun.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> Full sun is best for good fruit cropping.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n\n== Shade Tolerance ==\n\nTolerates moderate shade (approximately 20% shade / 1-2 hours of direct sun).<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\n== Aspect ==\n\n== Exposure ==\n\n== Propagation ==\n\nHardwood cuttings (i.e. from fully matured stems) can be taken in late autumn (during dormancy).<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\nThe shrub can send out suckers, which can be propagated by carefully digging out the root and cutting it from the main plant.\n\nFrom seed, greatest chance of success is as soon as ripe in autumn, using a cold frame.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n\nSeed can remain viable for up to 17 years or more.<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> Stored seed will require 4 - 5 months of 0 - 9 °c cold stratification to germinate from dormancy.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n\n== Maintenance ==\n\nThe plant is moderately easy to care for.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n\n== Watering ==\n\nLow water requirements.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n\n== Pruning ==\n\nMay require pruning to keep from spreading.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\n== Problems ==\n\nCan harbour a stage of white pine blister rust (do not grow near pines).<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> The genus ''Ribes'' is susceptible to honey fungus.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n\nBirds may eat the fruit.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n\n== Harvest ==\n\nBerries start green and turn black when ripe. Berries can be harvested before they are fully ripe assuming they will be cooked.<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> Berries can be left hanging on the bush until Autumn, but birds may eat them.<ref name=\"pfaf\" />\n\n== Preservation ==\n\nOnce harvested, fruits will be edible for 1 - 2 weeks.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> Fruits can be turned in to fruit leather but require thickening.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\n== Uses ==\n\n* '''Fruit''' - fruits are edible by humans\n* '''Hedging''' - large thorns can make this plant suitable in hedges to deter animals,<ref name=\"crawford2016\" /> such as deer.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n* '''Bee plant''' - attracts bees and other insect pollinators.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n* '''Attracts other wildlife''' - e.g. butterflies and brids.<ref name=\"calscape\" />\n* '''Cultivation of crosses and hybrids''' - e.g. ''R. divaricatum'' was used in the creation of the \"Jostaberry\" plant.{{W|Jostaberry}}\n* '''Graft stock''' for [[gooseberries]] and currants.<ref name=\"wiersema2016\">Wiersema, JH; León, B (2016). [https://www.worldcat.org/title/world-economic-plants-a-standard-reference-second-edition/oclc/967107089&referer=brief_results World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference.] CRC Books. ISBN 9781466576810.</ref>\n\n== Nutritional Values ==\n\n== Cooking ==\n\nFruit can be eaten raw or cooked.<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> Young leaves and unripe fruit can be used to make a sauce.<ref name=\"pfaf\" /> Can be used to make jams, pies, etc.<ref name=\"crawford2016\" />\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:Berries]]"}