Description

Canyon gooseberry is one of the more garden-friendly members of the Ribes genus, but it is seldom planted. One encounters the plant along shady trailsides in coastal mountains from Oregon to Santa Barbara County. The setting is often quite dark, and canyon gooseberry usually grows as an isolated specimen or in small patches, so it is easy to miss. It does deserve a closer look. The form is fairly upright, with smooth, grass-green leaves. The leaves are somewhat sticky to the touch. Like all gooseberries, canyon gooseberry is quite thorny. The branches are covered with fine bristles, with more stout spines at the leaf nodes. After emerging from dormancy, the maroon and white flowers appear. These mature to large yellow-orange, bristly fruit by summer. Plant this interesting native in a shady spot and provide moderate water.