Carried by 39 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Ribes malvaceum, called "chaparral currant", is a member of the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry family). It is endemic to California. It occurs below 1500 meter in chaparral, foothill oak woodland, and closed-cone pine forest ranging from Baja California to the San Francisco Bay area and inner Northern Coastal Ranges. Less than 2 meters tall, this perennial shrub lacks the characteristic nodal spines which are demonstrated on the stems of many other members in the genus Ribes. The leaf blades (20-50 millimeter) are densely hairy and double toothed. Bright pink flowers produce edible purple berries.
Shrub
5 - 8 ft Tall
5 ft Wide
Spreading
Fast
Summer Deciduous, Winter Deciduous
Pleasant
Pink, Purple
Winter, Spring
Deer resistant
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Low, Very Low
Max 2x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 34 - 96° F
Fast
Medium and coarse, dry.
Soil PH: 5.8 - 8.2
Prune during dry season or after fruiting. Avoid cutting into old wood.
Oak woodlands, closed cone pine forests, chaparral
Chaparral, Closed-cone Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland
Butterflies and moths supported
3 confirmed and 76 likely
Orange Tortrix Moth
Argyrotaenia franciscana
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Aglais milberti