Ribes malvaceum aka Chaparral Currant

Ribes malvaceum is also known as chaparral currant. It belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. This shrub grows wild in California. It also grows in northern Baja California, Mexico. Its range takes in the Sierra Nevada foothills. It grows on Coast Range slopes too. Kew calls its native climate subtropical. It is not native to Oregon, Britain or Ireland. The name malvaceum refers to leaves shaped like those of mallows.

This broadleaf shrub grows about 5 feet [1.5 metres] tall. It also spreads about 5 feet [1.5 metres] wide. It has several stems, not one main trunk. No spines grow at the stem nodes. It tends to shed its leaves. Oregon State does not state this as a fixed trait. Each leaf is simple, with three lobes. Its edges have two sets of teeth. Leaves grow in turn along the stems, not in pairs. Many form small groups on short side shoots. Each thin leaf blade is about 0.8–2 inches across. The dull green leaves bear dense hairs and glands. These traits help you tell the leaves apart from others. They help even when the shrub has no flowers.

The small flowers range from pink to purple. They hang in groups of 10–25 blooms. In mild climates, bloom can start in late October. It can last through March in those climates. The pink blooms have a scent and draw hummingbirds. Winter flowers give this shrub value in a sunny garden. The hanging groups add interest in the cool months. Red to purple fruit forms after the flowers. Each fruit is about a quarter of an inch across. The supplied species account does not say people can eat it.

Oregon State advises sun for this shrub. It calls the plant tough and able to withstand drought. The listed cold-hardiness threshold is USDA Zone 5. The winter bloom dates do not apply to every site. They apply to places with mild climates. The height and spread help gardeners plan space for it. Leave room for a broad shrub, not a narrow, upright plant.

The evidence gives no soil or drainage needs for this species. It gives no pruning schedule, pest list or disease list. Neither source states whether it is toxic to people or pets. The fruit details alone do not show whether it is safe. The strongest evidence supports its ability to withstand drought. It also supports its scented winter flowers.