Ribes divaricatum aka Wild Black Gooseberry

Ribes divaricatum is a deciduous shrub in the gooseberry family. Common names include coast black gooseberry and straggly gooseberry. It grows wild in western North America. Sources place its range from British Columbia south to California. In Oregon, it grows west of the Cascade Mountains. Its habitats include open woods, prairies, and moist hillsides. It loses its leaves each year.

Garden plants reach about 3–9 feet [0.9–2.7 metres] tall. Some accounts report heights of 10 feet [3 metres]. Many stems form an upright or spreading shrub. Its long branches arch and can look loose or straggly. Bark and twigs range from reddish brown to grayish brown. Each stem node may bear up to three stout thorns. The round leaves have three or five toothed lobes. Their upper faces are dark green, with fine hairs. The undersides are paler and also bear hairs. Leaf stalks have glandular hairs.

Small flower clusters hang from the branches in spring. PFAF gives April as the flowering month. Purple or green-purple sepals bend back around smaller petals. The petals may be white, pink, or red. Long stamens reach beyond the petals. Insects pollinate the flowers, which contain both male and female organs. Smooth, round berries turn black or blue-black as they ripen. They are roughly pea-sized, reaching about 0.4 inches across. Fruit ripens in midsummer, with PFAF giving July to August. Birds eat the berries, but uneaten fruit may last into autumn.

Sun suits this shrub, though it can grow in partial shade. PFAF recommends full sun for good growth. It prefers moist soil that drains well. Loam suits it, but sand and clay are also acceptable. It tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. Hardiness reports differ: PFAF lists USDA zones 4–8. Oregon State lists it as hardy to zone 7. It suits woodland edges and gardens grown for food. PFAF reports mildew resistance and use in breeding resistant hybrids. It can host white pine blister rust near pine trees.

The sweet, juicy berries have some tartness. People eat them fresh or cook them. Young leaves and unripe fruit have also served in sauces. PFAF lists no known hazards. It records traditional remedies made from bark, roots, and stems. These records do not establish medical benefit. Other recorded uses include root fibre for rope. People also used the sharp thorns as small tools.