Plant Details

Ribes divaricatum

Worcesterberry

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Ribes divaricatum.

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Common names

20 names · 14 languages
EnglishYour language
  • coast gooseberry[2]
  • Spreading gooseberry[1][2]
  • Straggly Gooseberry[2]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • wild gooseberry[2]
  • Worcesterberry
Other languages (13)
Dutch
  • Worcesterbes[2]
French
  • Groseillier de Worcester
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 野黑鹅莓[2]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 野黑鵝莓[2]
Czech
  • meruzalka rozevřená[2]
Downriver Halkomelem
  • t̓émʔxʷ[2]
Finnish
  • harokarviainen[2]
German
  • Oregon-Johannisbeere[1]
  • Oregon-Stachelbeere[2]
  • Schwarze Honigbeere[2]
Norwegian
  • svartstikkelsbær[2]
Russian
  • Крыжовник растопыренный[2]
Saanich
  • ḴÁMQ IȽĆ[2]
Slovak
  • egreš roztiahnutý[2]
Swedish
  • spärrkrusbär[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ribes divaricatum Douglas ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Oregon-Johannisbeere (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 174017; taxon 6WVCN.
  • Spreading gooseberry (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 174018; taxon 6WVCN.
[2] Ribes divaricatum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • spreading gooseberry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • wild gooseberry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • Worcesterbes — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • Straggly Gooseberry — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • svartstikkelsbær — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • meruzalka rozevřená — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • spärrkrusbär — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • 野黑鵝莓 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • 野黑鹅莓 — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • coast gooseberry — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • Крыжовник растопыренный — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • harokarviainen — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • egreš roztiahnutý — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • ḴÁMQ IȽĆ — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • t̓émʔxʷ — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • Oregon-Stachelbeere — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.
  • Schwarze Honigbeere — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 53448; Ribes divaricatum.

General information

Scientific name: Ribes divaricatum
Accepted name (Kew): Ribes divaricatum Douglas View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Grossulariaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Ribes (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Worcesterberry
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 2.70 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
None

Description

The fruit of the gooseberry can be eaten both raw and cooked. They are sweet and juicy, with an acceptable flavor that is slightly on the sour side. Gooseberries are considered one of the best wild North American berries. Sometimes they are harvested before they are fully ripe and then cooked. The fruits are about 10 mm in diameter. On wild plants, the fruits can remain hanging on the bush until autumn (if the birds leave them alone). The young leaves and unripe fruits are used to make sauces.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/07
Harvest ends: 15/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 556306; name ID 2426003; Ribes L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 156756; name ID 2426789; Ribes divaricatum Douglas.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Ribes divaricatum

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2423091, ID 6WVCN: Ribes divaricatum Douglas (accepted).

    Source checked on .