Wild black gooseberry
Ribes divaricatum
Last reviewed: August 2026
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
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaWax 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.
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.
Ready to grow Wild black gooseberry? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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