How much sun does Wild black gooseberry need?

Wild black gooseberry grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Wild black gooseberry bloom?

Wild black gooseberry blooms in March and April.

Where is Wild black gooseberry native?

Wild black gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum) is native to CA, OR, WA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

What pollinators does Wild black gooseberry attract?

Wild black gooseberry draws hummingbirds and bees.

Wild black gooseberry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Ribes divaricatum

Last reviewed: November 2026

Wild black gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum) is a perennial shrub native to CA, OR, WA. It blooms in March and April. The flowers draw hummingbirds and bees.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Wild black gooseberry, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Wild black gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

36"–72" H × 36"–72" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr

Native to

CA, OR, WA

Pollinators

hummingbirds, bees

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains North American Deserts Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Wax currant is an arching, thorny deciduous shrub with small lobed leaves and drooping clusters of small pink-white flowers in early spring, followed by smooth berries. It grows along woodland edges and forest openings.

Growing Wild black gooseberry

Grow Wild black gooseberry in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 36 to 72 inches tall and spread 36 to 72 inches wide.

Wildlife value

The early flowers are visited by hummingbirds and bees before many other shrubs have bloomed, and the berries are eaten by birds later in the season.

Common questions

How much sun does Wild black gooseberry need?: Wild black gooseberry grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Wild black gooseberry bloom?: Wild black gooseberry blooms in March and April.
Where is Wild black gooseberry native?: Wild black gooseberry (Ribes divaricatum) is native to CA, OR, WA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
What pollinators does Wild black gooseberry attract?: Wild black gooseberry draws hummingbirds and bees.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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