Ribes bracteosum
Stink currant, Stink Currant
(c) Casey H. Richart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes bracteosum (Stink currant) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by skunky odor and very large leaves diagnostic.
Stink currant is a California native shrub found in northern coastal, western Klamath Range, and northern Coast Range bioregions in moist forest habitats at elevations of 15 to 1,665 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces small white flowers in erect clusters of 20 to 50 blooms. Growing to less than 4 meters tall with sparsely hairy stems, it forms an open, branching structure. Its distinctive leaves are deeply 5 to 7-lobed, 4 to 20 centimeters wide, with a shiny upper surface and dull underside featuring sparse yellow glandular spots. The fruit develops as a black-glaucous berry 8 to 10 millimeters long, giving the plant its characteristic appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; skunky odor and very large leaves diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist forest
Elevation: 15-1665 m
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Ribes bracteosum blooms Mar-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 bracteosum native to California?
Yes. Ribes bracteosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes bracteosum bloom?
Ribes bracteosum blooms Mar-Jun.
What plant family does Ribes bracteosum belong to?
Ribes bracteosum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes bracteosum grow in?
Ribes bracteosum grows in Moist forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.