We need help! In recent months our income dropped considerably and we need more donations from our users to avoid getting into financial difficulty. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Ribes malvaceum - Sm.

Common Name Chaparral Currant
Family Grossulariaceae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Chaparral, oak woodlands at elevations up to 1,500 metres[270 ].
Range Southwestern N. America - California
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ribes malvaceum Chaparral Currant


Stan Shebs. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Ribes malvaceum Chaparral Currant
Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Chaparral Currant (R. malvaceum), with a native range from California to Mexico (N. Baja California), grows well in full sun to partial shade and is ideal for natural landscapes or xeriscaping. The edible berries are small but flavorful. They are eaten fresh or used in preserves.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Ribes malvaceum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 1.5 m (5ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Insects, Hummingbirds. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

R. malvaceum var. clementinum Dunkle. R. malvaceum var. viridifolium Abrams. R. polystachyum A.Berger. R. purpurascens A.Heller. R. viridifolium (Abrams) A.Heller. R. watkinsii Eastw.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. Palatable[270 ]. The purple, globose fruits are around 6- 7mm in diameter[270 ]. Currants are usually harvested in mid to late summer, depending on the species and local climate. Ribes species generally flower in spring, with flowering occurring before or as the leaves emerge.

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.


None Known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Ideal for native plant gardens, erosion control on slopes, and wildlife gardens. Its winter flowering makes it a standout ornamental plant in Mediterranean gardens. Currants can be used in agroforestry systems as a shrub layer in a mixed-species planting. They attract pollinators and beneficial insects, and their dense growth can provide habitat for wildlife. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen: Currant flowers produce nectar and pollen, attracting pollinators such as bees and other beneficial insects. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting): The berries are a food source for birds and small mammals. The dense shrubs provide good cover and shelter for wildlife, and can also serve as nesting sites for birds. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover): The leaf litter and dense growth offer overwintering sites and shelter for invertebrates, and the shrubs contribute to ground cover. Pest Confuser (Smell): Currants do not have a strong scent that acts as a pest confuser.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Soil Texture: Prefers light (sandy) to medium soils. It can tolerate rocky or gravelly soils commonly found in chaparral habitats. Soil Moisture: Thrives in dry to moderately moist soils. It is drought-tolerant once established and adapted to seasonal rainfall patterns typical of Mediterranean climates. Drainage: Requires well-drained soil to prevent root rot. Soil pH: Tolerates a range of soil pH levels, from slightly acidic to neutral. Saline Tolerance: Low tolerance for saline conditions; best suited for inland and upland areas rather than coastal environments with high salinity. Tolerance of Poor Soil: it can thrive in poor, nutrient-deficient soils, particularly in natural chaparral and woodland habitats. Light Requirements: Grows best in full sun to partial shade. Tolerates shade better in hotter climates. Height: Typically grows to about 1–2 meters (3–6 feet) tall, with a spread of about 1.5–2 meters (5–7 feet). Pollination: bees, hummingbirds, and other insects are attracted to its clusters of fragrant, tubular pink to red flowers. Temperature: Native to California and suited for USDA zones 7–10. It thrives in Mediterranean climates with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Drought Tolerance: Very drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for xeriscaping. Flowering: Produces showy clusters of pink to red flowers in late fall to early spring, providing a vital nectar source for pollinators during winter. Pests and Diseases: Generally pest-resistant but can be susceptible to powdery mildew in overly humid or poorly ventilated conditions. Pruning: Minimal pruning is needed; trimming dead or weak branches after flowering can promote healthy growth.A deciduous shrub with erect stems. It can grow 100 - 200cm tall[270 ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as food. Species in this genus are generally easy to grow, preferring a position in the sun (where they fruit best) or moderate shade and succeeding in most moist but well-drained soils of at least moderate fertility[11 ]. White pine blister rust, caused by the pathogen Cronartium ribicola, is a fungal disease native to Asia. It has spread via human activity to many other regions, where it has become more virulent. It has a complex life cycle requiring currants (Ribes species) and white pines (Pinus species of the section Strobus) for the disease to spread. While Ribes species can generally live with the disease (it has an annual life cycle and infects the leaves only), Pinus species can be devastated by it (it becomes perennial and spreads through the tree). Young pines are far more susceptible than mature trees. In America, the growing of certain Ribe species is banned in some areas to protect plantations of white pine species. Plants in this genus tend to be notably susceptible to honey fungus[200 ]. The native range of this species is from California to Mexico (N. Baja California). It is a shrub and grows primarily in the subtropical biome [2-5]. Currant plants are relatively fast-growing, reaching maturity in about 2 to 3 years. They typically grow to a height of 1 to 2 meters (3 to 6 feet) and can be quite productive.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

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).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months of cold stratification at 0 - 9°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[113, 164 ]. Under typical 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, mid-summer in a frame[113 ]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, late autumn to late winter in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[78, 200 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Chaparral Currant

Native Range

Native to: California, Mexico Northwest.

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.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not Available

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

Sm.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Ribes malvaceum  
All the information contained in these pages is Copyright (C) Plants For A Future, 1996-2012.
Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567,
Web Design & Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Some information cannot be used for commercial reasons or be modified (but some can). Please view the copyright link for more information.