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Ribes divaricatum - Douglas.

Common Name Coastal Black Gooseberry, Spreading gooseberry, Parish's gooseberry, Straggly gooseberry
Family Grossulariaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Open woods, prairies and moist hillsides[60].
Range Western N. America.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ribes divaricatum Coastal Black Gooseberry, Spreading gooseberry, Parish


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund
Ribes divaricatum Coastal Black Gooseberry, Spreading gooseberry, Parish
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Ribes divaricatum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2.7 m (8ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Grossularia divaricata. Steud.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 3, 61, 118, 257]. Sweet and juicy[183]. A very acceptable flavour, though a bit on the acid side[K]. It is considered to be one of the finest wild N. American gooseberries[183]. The fruit is sometimes harvested before it is fully ripe and then cooked[256]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[200]. On the wild species the fruit can hang on the plant until the autumn (if the birds leave it alone)[K]. Young leaves and unripe fruits are used to make a sauce[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

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Miscellany  TB  VD

The inner bark has been chewed, and the juice swallowed, as a treatment for colds and sore throats[257]. A decoction of the bark or the root has been used as an eye wash for sore eyes[257]. An infusion of the roots has been used in the treatment of sore throats, venereal disease and tuberculosis[257]. The burnt stems have been rubbed on neck sores[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Miscellany  Needles  String

The roots have been boiled with cedar (Juniperus spp, Thuja sp.) and wild rose (Rosa spp) roots, then pounded and woven into rope[257]. The sharp thorns have been used as probes for boils, for removing splinters and for tattooing[257].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[11, 200]. Requires a very sunny position if it is to do well[11]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[200]. This species is closely allied to R. rotundifolium[11]. Immune to mildew[101], this species is a parent of many mildew resistant hybrids and is being used in breeding programmes in Europe[200]. Plants can harbour a stage of white pine blister rust, so should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[155]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. Sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit, there is at least one named variety[183]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is branching: a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 4 - 5 months cold stratification at between 0 to 9°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[113, 164]. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[78, 113]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[78, 200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

North American Worcesterberry,

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Ribes divaricatum

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Douglas.

Botanical References

1160200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

MrsK Corfe   Mon Oct 5 2009

Hello,early this year I purchased a black gooseberry bush from a lady, it has dark green leaves with a smooth stem, it has grown to a very healthy bush ,but has had no fruit this year, how should I prune for next year and hopefully some fruit I hope you can advise me, thank you for your time.

   Dec 30 2011 12:00AM

My worcesterberry (Ribes divaricatum) has been growing succesfuly on a very difficult exposed, cold site where it has reaches -20C. Most plants in the area are also regularly eaten by fallow deer, however they hardly touch the worcesterberry. The shrub has managed to fruit prolifically for the past three years. The only difficulty with this been the harvesting as the plants are so spiky. The dark purple berries are incredibly sweet inside but have a sour skin. They are much enjoyed by my young two year old daughter, who tends to suck out the pulp and leave the skin. Our shrub has produced a good number of new plants where it has naturally layered itself. These have been dug up and replanted.

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