Californian Ribes

Ribes speciosum

Not rare but a classic with its rich red somewhat fuchsia-like flowers dangling all along the undersides of the branches in spring. The leaves are gooseberry-like and glossy fresh green and the red stems are viciously thorny.

Best trained on a sunny wall, but surprisingly tough with a little protection.
sold out


Ribes cereum

An attractive Californian species with profuse palest rosy white flowers in spring among small shiny leaves on a compact gnarly shrub.

An ideal species for Mediterranean style gardens growing among other sun-loving drought-tolerant species.
3L pots ~ £12

Ribes aureum gracillimum

Related to but not the same as the more familiar eastern buffalo berry - R.odoratum. This has similar tubular yellow flowers, but tinted red at the tips, and it is a much more compact plant.

The flowers appear early among the new leaves rather than on bare branches. There might even be some orange berries if you're lucky.
£12