Ribes californicum
Hillside gooseberry, Hillside Gooseberry
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes californicum (Hillside gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by drooping flower clusters with nodal spines diagnostic.
Hillside gooseberry is a California native shrub found in chaparral and woodland habitats, typically growing at moderate elevations. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white flowers with delicate curled petals and green to red sepals about 6 to 8 millimeters long. Growing to less than 1.5 meters tall, the shrub features distinctive nodal spines with generally glabrous internodes. Its leaves are relatively small, measuring 1 to 3 centimeters across, and typically lack glandular surfaces. The fruit develops as a red berry approximately 9 to 10 millimeters in diameter, adorned with short glandular bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; drooping flower clusters with nodal spines diagnostic
Habitat and range
California counties: Los Angeles, Lake, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa, Monterey, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Amador, San Benito, Napa, Sonoma, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Plumas, Shasta, Modoc, Butte, Sierra, Nevada, Santa Cruz
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 californicum native to California?
Yes. Ribes californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Ribes californicum grow?
Ribes californicum occurs in Los Angeles, Lake, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Marin, Alameda, Contra Costa and other counties.
What plant family does Ribes californicum belong to?
Ribes californicum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
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.