Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

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Horticultural selection from Ribes malvaceum var. malvaceum. Dancing Tassels is a beautiful summer deciduous shrub for shady areas. Growing to 6 feet tall, this vase shaped shrub has soft green lobed leaves and peeling red-brown bark. The small, pinkish white flowers are jammed together on pendulous, chandelier-like 4 inch clusters. Dancing Tassels was selected for use in the garden by the Rancho santa Ana Botanical Garden because it sports the longest flower clusters of the species. It is originally from Bryce Canyon on san Clemente Island. Chaparral Currant blooms earlier in winter than the Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), providing hummingbirds an outstanding nectar source in late fall and early winter. It is also more sun and drought tolerant than R. Sanguineum. After its long flowering period, Dancing Tassels produces dark blue fruits that appeal to a large variety of songbirds and human jelly makers. Tailed Copper butterflies also use it as a larval plant. In coastal areas plant in full sun or part shade, inland it needs filtered shade. It is not finicky about soil type, but it needs good drainage. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden on san Clemente Island by Bart O' Brien and Tom Hayduk of Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

6 - 8 ft Tall
4 - 6 ft Wide

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Fast

Dormancy

Summer Deciduous

Fragrance

Pleasant

Calscape icon
Color

Pink, White

Flowering season

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

Sun

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Water

Low, Very Low

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

15

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soils.

Hummingbirds
Bats
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies