Ribes viburnifolium aka Island Gooseberry

Ribes viburnifolium, or Catalina currant, is a shrub that stays green year-round. It is part of the currant family, Grossulariaceae. It grows wild on Santa Catalina Island in California. Its native range also includes Baja California Norte, Mexico. Kew places it in the subtropical biome. In gardens, it grows low, with branches that spread. Its leaves stay on the plant all year.

Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre] tall. They spread to 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres] wide. Virginia Tech gives a height of 4 feet [1.2 metres]. Long, thin, reddish stems arch down toward the ground. Branch tips can root where they touch the soil. This lets the shrub spread past its first rooted stems. Young twigs have a few hairs with glands. Bark may be red, reddish brown, or grayish brown.

The broad, oval leaves are glossy and dark green. Each leaf is simple, with one blade, and feels leathery. Leaves grow in turn on each side of the stem. Their edges may be smooth or have uneven teeth. Unlike many currants, this species has no leaf lobes. Glands beneath the leaves give off sap with a scent. Rain or bruising brings out a citrus-like or wine-like smell. Small red to pinkish flowers bloom from late winter into early spring. The tube-shaped blooms form loose, long clusters called racemes. Each flower has both male and female parts. Round berries ripen from orange-red to red in late spring. They are about a quarter-inch across, and birds eat them.

This shrub suits part shade or full shade in gardens. Choose a site with shelter, which may face north or east. It grows in chalk, clay, loam, and sandy soils. Soil may be acidic, neutral, or alkaline. It suits moist soil that drains well. The RHS gives it a hardiness rating of H3. This suits coastal sites and other mild parts of Britain. Plants take about two to five years to mature.

Use Catalina currant as ground cover in warm, shaded gardens. It suits informal gardens and plantings that serve wildlife. It needs no routine pruning, but trims help it grow bushier. It can take harder pruning when it needs fresh growth. Grow new plants from seed, semi-ripe cuttings, or layered stems. Watch for aphids, gall mites, and gall midges. Diseases may include leaf spot, powdery mildew, and coral spot. Honey fungus can harm it too.