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Ribes lobbii - A.Gray.

Common Name Gummy Gooseberry
Family Grossulariaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Creek banks and lowland valleys to open or forested mountain slopes[60].
Range Western N. America - southern British Columbia to northern California.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Ribes lobbii Gummy Gooseberry


www.flickr.com/photos/14563577@N00
Ribes lobbii Gummy Gooseberry
www.flickr.com/photos/14563577@N00

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Ribes lobbii is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from April to May. 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 cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

R. subvestitum. Hook. non Hook.&Arn. Grossularia lobbii. (A.Gray.)Cov.&Britt.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[101, 105, 161, 257]. Generally considered to be unpalatable, but they were occasionally eaten by some native North American Indian tribes[256].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent  Poultice  Salve

The root has been used in the treatment of diarrhoea[257]. A poultice of the roots and salt water has been applied to mouth sores, body sores, blisters and carbuncles[257]. The root ash, mixed with oil, has been used as a salve on boils[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

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

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 sunny position[11]. Hardy to about -20°c[200]. A very ornamental plant[60], it is closely related to R. menziesii[1]. Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[155]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at between 0 and 5°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

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (British Columbia (southwest)), United States (Oregon, Washington, California (north))

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 :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Embelia ribesFalse black pepper, White-flowered EmbeliaClimber15.0 10-12 FLMHSM342
Rheum ribes Perennial1.5 5-9  MHSNDM20 
Ribes aciculare Shrub1.0 3-7  LMHSNM30 
Ribes alpinumAlpine CurrantShrub1.2 2-7 MLMHSNM304
Ribes altissimum Shrub3.0 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Ribes ambiguum Shrub0.6 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Ribes americanumAmerican BlackcurrantShrub1.8 -  LMHSNM21 
Ribes aureumGolden CurrantShrub2.4 3-8  LMHSNDM410
Ribes bracteosumStink CurrantShrub2.5 6-9  LMHNM21 
Ribes burejenseBureja gooseberry,Shrub1.0 4-8  LMHSNM400
Ribes californicumHillside GooseberryShrub0.0 6-9  LMHNM20 
Ribes cereumWax CurrantShrub1.8 4-8  LMHNDM21 
Ribes curvatumGranite gooseberryShrub1.0 6-9  LMHSNM30 
Ribes cynosbatiDogberry, Eastern prickly gooseberryShrub1.5 0-0  LMHSNM310
Ribes diacanthumSiberian currantShrub1.8 0-0  LMHSNM20 
Ribes distans Shrub0.6 4-8  LMHSNM20 
Ribes divaricatumCoastal Black Gooseberry, Spreading gooseberry, Parish's gooseberry, Straggly gooseberryShrub2.7 4-8  LMHSNM412
Ribes fasciculatum Shrub1.5 4-8  LMHSNM10 
Ribes fragrans Shrub0.6 3-7  LMHSNM30 
Ribes gayanum Shrub1.5 7-10  LMHSNM30 
Ribes glaciale Shrub3.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Ribes glandulosumSkunk CurrantShrub0.4 -  LMHSNM213
Ribes griffithii Shrub2.5 -  LMHSNM20 
Ribes himalense Shrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM31 
Ribes hirtellumCurrant-Gooseberry, Hairystem gooseberryShrub1.0 4-8  LMHNM300
Ribes horridum Shrub1.5 -  LMHSNM30 
Ribes hudsonianumHudson Bay Currant, Northern black currant, Western black currantShrub1.0 0-0  LMHSNM21 
Ribes inebriansWhisky CurrantShrub2.0 4-8  LMHSNM21 
Ribes inermeWhitestem Gooseberry, Klamath gooseberryShrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Ribes irriguumIdaho GooseberryShrub3.0 -  LMHSNM21 
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.

 

Expert comment

Author

A.Gray.

Botanical References

1160200

Links / References

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