Ribes divaricatum - Also known as: Straggly Gooseberry, Wild Coast Gooseberry
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Size at maturity: 3-9' tall
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Canopy layer: large shrub
- Light requirements: full sun, part sun/part shade
- Moisture requirements: moist soil
- Growth rate: medium
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Special features: edible
Habit: this gooseberry grows upright with arching, branches and several thick thorns at leaf nodes. The broad leaves are lobed with toothed margins and hairy undersides. The small inflorescence (cluster) of 3-5 hanging, bell shaped flowers, are not as showy as others in this genus. They have greenish to purple sepals, surrounding a small ring of white or reddish petals with stamens protruding well beyond the petals. Fruit is a shiny black and tasty berry. Blooms from mid to late spring.
Ecology: found along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia through California, growing at low elevations on wet areas, moist open woods, canyons, and coastal bluffs.
Growing Conditions: full sun to partial shade or dappled light in moist to wet soil. Tolerates sand and seasonal flooding.
Provides food, nesting sites and thorny cover for birds.
Photo Credit 1: "File:Black velvet gooseberry 1.jpg" by Nadiatalent is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo Credit 2: "File:Ribes divaricatum fruit2.jpg" by Nadiatalent is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo Credit 3: "Ribes divaricatum" is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Description and source from Sevenoaks Native Nursery