Gooseberry Currant
Ribes montigenum
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
Andrey Zharkikh (www.flickr.com) from Salt Lake City, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Grossulariaceae
- Genus:
- Ribes
- Species:
- Ribes montigenum
- USDA Symbol:
- RIMO2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, red, green
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Zephyr anglewing (Polygonia zephyrus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow, red
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; common in post-fire montane communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, rocky or sandy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to mountainous regions, often found in open, rocky areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification; germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: For cuttings, dip into a Hormex and Captan (fungicide) solution of #3 and #16. For seeds, stratification at 32°F for 7 to 10 months or cold moist stratification for 200 to 300 days.
Establishment: The plant is found in many subalpine, alpine habitats at 7,000-5,000 feet and from British Columbia to California and east throughout the western states to New Mexico. There is a variation in the stratification period between the two protocols.
Source: npn.rngr.net