The flowers on this shrub remind me of fuchsia. But oh - this plant has thorns and they're very sharp. I've found several of these growing in the woods here on Gabriola Island. (BC, Canada.) It doesn't look like a native species to me - is it? I've looked in a few books, but no luck. I'm wondering if this is a garden plant that's escaped into the wild. Any idea what it could be?
Thank you, chimera! You've made my day. I'm thrilled that you were able to give me the answer - and so quickly, too! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Nice photo and pretty flower, thanks for showing it. Apparently the prickles can cause an allergenic reaction to some people. It is included in "Plants of Coastal B.C.", Pojar and MacKinnon, without a photo.
I've seen this growing on bare places on the way up to Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains. There it had a bit of a dieback problem. Also saw a better-looking one in bloom on a walk through forest lands near Olympia. Bought one once but it died before I got it out of the pot. Friends near here have a vigorous, thriving plant of similar Ribes menziesii. That might be a better one to try in local gardens.
Thanks for your generosity, chimera. I always hesitate before posting a question here, because it seems I'm always asking questions on this forum, and am rarely able to answer any. I hope that one day I'll know enough to be able to post helpful replies, instead of so many requests for help!
I just discovered this plant myself! Apr 23 2013. We went for a walk on Extension Ridge section of Cross Canada Trail (south of Nanaimo - at the end where the next section is Pipeline trail.) So adorable - and yes VERY thorny. Glad I read about this slightly toxic plant. There were very few of them. Interesting that it is a goose berry. I thought the leaves looked very much like the native blackberry vines crawling along the ground. What an amazing find this area is. See collage of flowers I attached. We had to go back because the cell phone pictures were blurry.
