Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Grossulariaceae

Genus:

Ribes

Species:

Ribes thacherianum

USDA Symbol:

RITH

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

150 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may

Bloom Colors:

pink, white

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from root crown following fire; typical of chaparral-associated Ribes species.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to specific microhabitats with well-drained soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds require cold stratification and may germinate erratically over several weeks.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI