Ribes binominatum
Trailing gooseberry, Trailing Gooseberry
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes binominatum (Trailing gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by trailing habit and large hooded yellow petals diagnostic.
Trailing gooseberry is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges and northern Coast Ranges in montane and subalpine forest habitats at elevations of 1,000 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white to pink flowers with green-white sepals and red margins, arranged in small clusters of 1 to 4 blooms. Growing as a low, spreading shrub less than 25 centimeters tall with distinctive nodal spines, it has a prostrate growth habit that roots along its stems. Its leaves are glandular-hairy, with blades 2 to 5 centimeters long that spread out from the plant's slender branches. The fruit is a yellow-green berry 8 to 10 millimeters long, covered in stout yellow prickles and glandular hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; trailing habit and large hooded yellow petals diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Montane, subalpine forest, meadows
Elevation: 1000-2300 m
California counties: Glenn, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tehama, Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Colusa, Shasta, Tulare, Lake
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Ribes binominatum blooms May-Jun.
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 binominatum native to California?
Yes. Ribes binominatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes binominatum bloom?
Ribes binominatum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Ribes binominatum grow?
Ribes binominatum occurs in Glenn, Siskiyou, Trinity, Tehama, Humboldt, Mendocino, Del Norte, Colusa and other counties, at elevations of 1000-2300 m.
What plant family does Ribes binominatum belong to?
Ribes binominatum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes binominatum grow in?
Ribes binominatum grows in Montane, subalpine forest, meadows.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.