Fuchsiaflower Gooseberry
(Ribes speciosum)
Fuchsiaflower Gooseberry (Ribes speciosum)
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Leonora (Ellie) Enking
CC BY-SA 2.0
Image By:
Leonora (Ellie) Enking
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Copyright:
CC BY-SA 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Leonora (Ellie) Enking | License Type: CC BY-SA 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ | Uploader: wallygrom | Publisher: Flickr
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Ribes speciosum, commonly known as Fuchsiaflower Gooseberry, is a deciduous spreading shrub native to the chaparral and coastal sage scrub of California and Baja California in Mexico. It typically reaches a maximum height of 3 meters (9.8 ft), with stems coated in bristles and three long spines at each stem node. The leathery leaves are shallowly divided into several lobes, mostly hairless, with the upper surfaces being dark green and shiny. The inflorescence consists of a solitary flower or a raceme of up to four flowers, with a tube made up of gland-studded scarlet sepals and four red petals inside. The plant blooms from late winter to early spring, and its flowers are particularly showy, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Fuchsiaflower Gooseberry is valued for its ornamental qualities, including its striking red flowers and its ability to thrive in drought-prone areas. It is often used in native plant gardens, wildlife gardens, and as a thorny barrier plant. This species is recognized for its low water requirements and adaptability to various soil types, including those with medium, fast, or slow drainage. It can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to full shade, though it prefers dappled to bright light, especially in hot, dry climates. The plant has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, highlighting its desirability for garden use. However, gardeners should be aware of its spiny stems when planting and maintaining.CC BY-SA 4.0
Fuchsiaflower Gooseberry is valued for its ornamental qualities, including its striking red flowers and its ability to thrive in drought-prone areas. It is often used in native plant gardens, wildlife gardens, and as a thorny barrier plant. This species is recognized for its low water requirements and adaptability to various soil types, including those with medium, fast, or slow drainage. It can tolerate a range of light conditions from full sun to full shade, though it prefers dappled to bright light, especially in hot, dry climates. The plant has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, highlighting its desirability for garden use. However, gardeners should be aware of its spiny stems when planting and maintaining.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 4-6 feet
- Width: 2-4 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Red
- Flowering Season: Spring, Winter
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to the chaparral and coastal sage scrub of California and Baja California in Mexico
Other Names
Common Names: Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry , Californian Fuchsia
Scientific Names: Ribes speciosum , Grossularia speciosa , Ribes stamineum , Ribes fuchsioides , Robsonia speciosa
GBIF Accepted Name: Ribes speciosum Pursh