Description
Sierra gooseberry is a captivating shrub with showy flowers and spiny yet edible fruit. In the Klamath-Siskiyou region Sierra gooseberry grows on rock outcrops, dry open slopes, in chaparral, along sunbaked ridgelines, in sunny openings or part-shade in forest or woodland, and on rocky terrain. Sierra gooseberry is a small to medium sized, semi-upright to spreading shrub that grows 2′-4′ tall depending on site conditions. The tubular, fuchsia-like flowers hang from the thorny branches in an attractive manner. The small white petals are surrounded by reflexed, burgundy-red sepals. The stamens and stigma protrude from the flower. Blooms March-April. The flowers are attractive to bumble bees and other pollinators. The upright or arching branches are thorny. The leaves are dark green with a shiny sheen. Sierra gooseberry has gorgeous fall color and is deciduous. The fruit (gooseberry) is round, turning from green to red-purple when ripe. Although the fruit is covered in spines it is edible and great for gooseberry jam. The fruit is also eaten by mammals and birds. Prefers coarse, well-drained soil and dry to medium-dry conditions. Can be propagated by seed and layering. Larval host plant for numerous butterflies. Deer do browse on the new suckering shoots of Sierra gooseberry, but once stems become woody and tough, the spines on the plants generally make this species deer resistant. It is also very drought tolerant.
Sierra gooseberry (Ribes roezlii) seed packets contain approximately 150 seeds per packet.
Seed Germination Instructions
90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall.
