Ribes amarum
Bitter gooseberry, Bitter Gooseberry
(c) George Williams, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 3
Ribes amarum (Bitter gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by unique smooth orange-red fruits diagnostic.
Bitter gooseberry is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in chaparral habitats at elevations of 15 to 1,910 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white petaled flowers with purple sepals in small clusters of one to three blossoms. Growing to less than 2 meters tall with distinctive nodal spines, the shrub has glandular-hairy branches and arching stems. Its leaves are 2 to 4 centimeters wide, featuring soft glandular hairs and a rounded blade shape. The fruit develops as a purple berry approximately 15 to 20 millimeters long, covered in stiff glandular bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; unique smooth orange-red fruits diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral
Elevation: 15-1910 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Orange, Mariposa, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, El Dorado, Kern, San Benito, Ventura, Butte, Contra Costa, Tulare, Alameda, Marin, Tuolumne, Santa Clara
Bloom period
Ribes amarum blooms Feb-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 3
How to tell it apart
vs Rubus: Ribes has palmately lobed leaves; blackberry has compound leaves with 3-7 separate leaflets.; vs Rhus: Ribes has palmately lobed simple leaves; sumac has pinnately compound leaves with separate leaflets.; vs Quercus: Ribes has toothed maple-like lobes; oak has smooth-edged rounded lobes and acorns.; vs Acer: Ribes has drooping flower clusters; maple has upright flower clusters and winged paired fruits.; vs Holodiscus: Ribes has broad palmately lobed leaves; ocean spray has pinnately arranged leaflets on compound leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ribes amarum native to California?
Yes. Ribes amarum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes amarum bloom?
Ribes amarum blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Ribes amarum grow?
Ribes amarum occurs in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Orange, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 15-1910 m.
What plant family does Ribes amarum belong to?
Ribes amarum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
Is Ribes amarum rare or endangered?
Ribes amarum carries California Rare Plant Rank 3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.