RNGR.net is sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry and is a colloborative effort between these two agencies.

U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Extension Forestry Southern Regional Extension Forestry

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Home Native Plant Network
 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Ribes (cereum)

jtrindle
USDA NRCS - Corvallis Plant Materials Center
3415 NE Granger Ave
Corvallis, Oregon 58413
(541)757-4812
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/orpmc

Family Scientific Name: Grossulariaceae
Family Common Name: Currant and Gooseberry
Scientific Name: Ribes cereum Dougl.
Common Name: wax currant; squaw currant
Species Code: RICE
Ecotype: Crater Lake National Park; on open ridges and slopes with rabbitbrush, manzanita; dry meadows at 5,500 to 6,000 feet elev.
General Distribution: Western and central continental US. Common on East slopes of Cascade Mountains in Oregon
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: seed
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: 1-gallon containers
Time To Grow: 2 Years
Target Specifications: multiple-stemmed, branched tops, well-developed root system filling container.
Propagule Collection: red-ripe fruit collected in August; hand picked into plastic bags and kept in cooler for transport.
Propagule Processing: Depulped in water in a blender with filed / dulled blades; pour off pulp / strain seeds and spread on paper toweling to dry. One lb berries yielded about 70 grams seed; seed weights average 201,400 to 283,600 / lb.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Fresh seed germinated after 12 weeks cold / moist stratification; in our collections older, stored seed germinated much better after 25 weeks cold / moist stratification. Seedlings sown directly into standard "1040" flats in peat / perlite / Fisons Sunshine #3 fine starter potting mix, watered-in and placed inside polyethylene bags in walk-in cooler at 34 to 38 F for strat.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Seedlings started on greenhouse bench when stratification was complete, transplanted into 3.5" square pots filled with Fisons Sunshine #1 soil-less potting mix with about 10% extra perlite. Monitored new growth for aphids; treated with Safers' insecticidal soap when necessary.
Establishment Phase: Kept in poly greenhouse until mid to late May; then moved outdoors to shadehouse for summer. Plants also did well in full sun but pots should be kept shaded to keep roots cool. Many were ready for repotting into 1-gallon cans in June of 1st year. 1-gallon cans held in shadehouse, on raised open benches to allow for air-pruning of roots and good drainage.
Length of Establishment Phase: 6 to 10 weeks in greenhouse
Active Growth Phase: After potting up, plants were fertilized at 2 to 3 week intervals with Peters 9-45-15 starter fertilizer at half strength for the first two fertilizations; then with Peters' Triple 20 at 2 week intervals until July. Plants maintained with drip irrigation system which helped to keep foliar diseases down. New growth headed back in early June if needed to control top growth and encourage branching.
Length of Active Growth Phase: May to July
Hardening Phase: Plants flushed with water in July to reduce excess salt build-up in pots; fertilization ceased and watering intervals lengthened in August to encourage vegetative maturity. Shade cloth removed in September to allow full sun acclimation.
Length of Hardening Phase: August - September
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Plants held over winter in unheated poly greenhouse; repotted and shoot / root pruned if necessary following spring. Transported in August via refrigerated van to Crater Lake to a holding facility near park headquarters for a few weeks acclimation prior to outplanting in September around refurbished lodge.
Length of Storage: Seeds - length of storage not known but older lots did require longer stratification to break dormancy.
Other Comments: Cuttings also successful; hardwood cuttings collected in October, treated with 0.8% IBA and held in mist bench rooted by January.
References: Link, Ellen, ed. 1993 Native Plant Propagation Techniques for National Parks Interim Guide; Compiled by Rose Lake Plant Materials Center 7472 Stoll Road East Lansing, MI 48823

Kruckeberg, Aurthur R. 1982. Gardening With Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest: An Illustrated Guide. Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press.

Hitchcock , C.L. and A. Cronquist 1973 Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle Wa.

Rose, Robin, C.E.C. Chachulski and D. Haase. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants 1998 Or. State U. Press, Corvallis, Oregon

USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.


Young, James A. and Cheryl G. Young. 1986. Collecting, Processing, and Germinating Seeds of Wildland Plants. Timber Press, Portland, OR

Citation:

Flessner, Theresa R; Trindle, Joan D.C.. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Ribes cereum Dougl. plants 1-gallon containers; USDA NRCS - Corvallis Plant Materials Center Corvallis, Oregon. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/22). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.