Image to followAI-generated illustrationRibes alpinum
Ribes alpinum
FamilyGenus: Ribesnative in Germany
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43
Species
interact
🔗
44
Interactions
documented
🐛
10
Host relationships
Species
About this species
Ribes alpinum is a native deciduous shrub of calcareous soils, often found in part shade across Great Britain. Reaching around 1.3 m, it produces small flowers from April to May and contributes to the understorey structure of woodlands, hedgerows and scrub.
Ecological network
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PollinationLarval hostFlower visit
Ecological significance
This native shrub contributes to the structural complexity of woodlands and hedgerows on calcareous soils.
Annual cycle
Deciduous shrub; new leaves open in spring. Flowering takes place from April to May. Leaves are shed in autumn.
Safety note
No safety data are recorded for this species.
Standort & Merkmale
Light
Halbschatten
Moisture
Frisch (Mäßig feucht)
Soil
Mittelzehrer (Normaler Boden)
Flowering period
Apr – Mai
Soil reaction
Basisch / Kalkhold
Bioregion
Continental
Growth form
Strauch
Woodiness
Verholzt
Leaf type
Breitblättrig
Leaf phenology
Laubabwerfend
Plant height
1.279 m
Morphological traits: TRY ID3 (CC BY 3.0) & TRY ID81 (CC BY)
Pflege & Anbau
Plant in part shade on fresh, moderately moist, ordinary garden soil that tends towards calcareous (alkaline). It is not a heavy feeder and requires little maintenance once established. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculants may aid establishment.
Scientific profile
Ribes alpinum is a woody, broad-leaved shrub belonging to the gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae). Indigenous to Great Britain, it grows naturally in hedgerows, scrub and open woodlands on calcareous, moderately moist soils. Plants usually reach about 1.3 m in height, with a preference for half-shady positions and fresh conditions. The leaves are deciduous, unfolding in spring, and small greenish-yellow flowers appear from April to May. The species forms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and is adapted to habitats that experience little disturbance.
Host relationships
10 species use this plant as a host
Orthosia gothicaMelanchra persicariaeConistra vacciniiCosmia trapezinaBiston betulariaCrocallis elinguariaAlcis repandataArctia cajaErannis defoliariaAngerona prunaria
Other flower visitors
32 other species visit the flowers
Sylvia communisOriolus oriolusSitta europaeaTurdus merulaSylvia cantillansErinaceus europaeusMartes foinaSylvia borinSaxicola torquatusLuscinia megarhynchosTurdus iliacusMeles melesFringilla coelebsColumba palumbusSylvia atricapillaErithacus rubeculaMonticola solitariusPhoenicurus phoenicurusPica picaSturnus vulgarisSylvia undataVulpes vulpesPhoenicurus ochrurosParus majorDryocopus martiusMuscicapa striataFicedula hypoleucaLuscinia lusciniaApodemus flavicollisTurdus philomelosPoecile palustrisCoccothraustes coccothraustes
Sources & data origin
•Interaktionsdaten via GloBI (CC-BY 4.0)
•FloraWeb / BfN
•EIVE 1.0 — Dengler et al. (2023), DOI: 10.3897/VCS.98324 (CC BY 4.0)
•GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — GBIF Secretariat (2024), DOI: 10.15468/39omei (CC BY 4.0)
•TRY Categorical Traits (ID3) — Kattge et al. (2012), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.3 (CC BY 3.0)
•TRY Global Spectrum (ID81) — Díaz et al. (2016/2021), DOI: 10.17871/TRY.81 (CC BY)
•Checklist Alien Plants Belgium — Verloove F (2023), Botanic Garden Meise (CC BY 4.0)
•Govaerts R et al. (2025) — World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) v14. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. DOI: 10.34885/xs7h-ze42 (CC BY 4.0)
All data is licensed under CC BY 4.0, CC0, or compatible terms. Attribution according to license conditions. Full source overview →