Grossulariaceae
Island gooseberry
Ribes viburnifolium
Also known as Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry, Ribes speciosum, Hillside gooseberry
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · California Native · Groundcover · Shade Tolerant · Drought Adapted · Ribes · Native Shrub · Erosion Control · Wildlife Habitat · Mediterranean Garden
Island gooseberry is a low-maintenance California native shrub well-suited to shaded or partly shaded spots and dry, well-drained soils once established. It is excellent for erosion control on slopes and makes a fragrant, attractive groundcover under oaks and other native trees. Water occasionally during the first season to help establishment, then rely mostly on seasonal rainfall in Mediterranean climates.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately, allowing the top 2 inches of soil to dry between waterings; reduce significantly in summer · Every 10-14 days during dry periods
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5–7.5
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division, Cutting
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 4 ft
- Spacing
- 60 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Purple
- Foliage
- Green · Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- California, Mexico Northwest
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle, usda
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