Ribes viburnifolium (Catalina Currant)

Botanical name: Ribes viburnifolium

Common names: Catalina Currant, Island Gooseberry, Evergreen Currant

Family: Grossulariaceae

Origin: California

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Ribes viburnifolium, is an uncommon North American species in the gooseberry family.

Ribes viburnifolium is a perennial shrub which grows low to the ground, extending long reddish stems horizontally. It may be pruned to restrain its sprawling tendencies.

The leaves are dark green and shiny on their top surfaces, and lighter green or yellowish and leathery on the undersides. The leaves have glands which exude a sticky, citrus-scented sap.

Clusters of deep red flowers bloom in late winter and into early spring. The plant yields small red fruits later in the spring.