Ribes malvaceum, Pink Chaparral Currant, is a five foot deciduous shrub with pink flower clusters in Oct.-Mar.. Native to slopes in the coast ranges. Pink Chaparral Currant likes sun in coast and cool climates to part shade inland with good drainage. Companion plants range from Coast Live Oak, Poison Oak, Madrone, Arctostaphylos glauca, and Bay.
Pink Chaparral Currant has fragrant flowers with a red and edible currant but not too great. Birds will get it first anyway. We use the leaves in peppermint tea (along with Ribes indecorum). One leaf will add a distinct twist to your tea.
This species will go summer dormant under drought stress, do not water it then, it will be back in the spring. If you want it to look better through the summer, mulch, and water a little extra in the spring.
Click here for more about California Currants and Gooseberries
Ribes malvaceum tolerates deer.
Ribes malvaceum is great for a bird garden.
Foliage of Ribes malvaceum has color green, is deciduous, has fragrance and is edible.
Flower of Ribes malvaceum has color pink and has a fragrance.
Fruit of Ribes malvaceum is edible.
Communities for Ribes malvaceum:Chaparral, Closed-cone Pine Forest, Mixed-evergreen Forest and Central Oak Woodland.
ph: | 5.50 to 7.20 |
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usda: | 7 to 10 |
height[m]: | 1.00 to 2.00 |
width[m]: | 1.00 to 2.00 |
rainfall[cm]: | 53.00 to 116.00 |