Ribes divaricatum
Common name: 
Coast Black Gooseberry
Straggly Gooseberry
Pronunciation: 
ri-BEEZ di-VAR-i-kah-tum
Family: 
Grossulariaceae
Genus: 
Ribes
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Deciduous multistemmed shrub, 3-8 ft (1-2.5 m) tall, long straggling branches, 0-3 stout spines ("thorns") per node.  Leaves 2-6 cm wide, sometimes broader than long, 3-5 lobed, lobes more or less regularly toothed, upper surface pubescent as well as on the margins, sparsely pubescent on veins below.   Flowers in 2-4 flowered clusters (racemes), tubular and bicolored, sepals purplish or greenish purple, more or less reflexed, petals in center shorter, erect, white, pink, or red, stamens extending beyond petals.  Fruit globose, black, smooth, 6-10 mm diameter.
  • Sun
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 7      Native from British Columbia to northern California; in Oregon it is found from the west slope of the Cascades to the coast.  Three varities are recognized:   
    • R. d. var. divaricatum: from British Columbia to Oregon; calyx purple to green; filaments exceeding petals by > 3 mm
    • R. d. var. publiflorum: Oregon and northern California; petals white; styles 5–8 mm 
    • R. d. var. parishii: southern California;  petals pink or red; styles 8–11 mm
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: south of Peavy Hall, in "native plants" area
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  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • plant habit, exposed site

    plant habit, exposed site

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • young spine (thorn)

    young spine (thorn)

  • leaves and flowers

    leaves and flowers

  • flower

    flower

  • stem after flowering

    stem after flowering

  • leaves and fruit

    leaves and fruit

  • fruit

    fruit

  • plant habit and twig, fall

    plant habit and twig, fall