Ribes

ribes sanguineum

Ribes sanguineum

There are many species of Ribes, both evergreen and deciduous.  A very nice evergreen species is Ribes viburnifolium with roundish, dark green leaves and dark red stems.  It needs no irrigation, making it ideal for planting under oaks.  It grows three to six feet tall and can spread to twelve feet.

A lovely deciduous species is Ribes sanguineum.  It has dark green maple-like leaves and clusters of white, pink or red flowers in spring.  It requires little water.