Ribes californicum var. californicum
California gooseberry
Photo: parent species Ribes californicum · (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes californicum var. californicum (California gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by long filaments and green/red-tinged sepals.
California gooseberry is a native shrub found in northern Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in forest openings and woodland at elevations below 720 meters. Flowering from February to March, this plant produces green or red-tinged flowers with distinctive long filaments. Growing with an upright, branching form reaching several feet tall, it develops a multi-stemmed structure typical of woodland shrubs. Its leaves are sparsely hairy or nearly glabrous, presenting a smooth green surface that blends into woodland understories. The fruit is a characteristic gooseberry, though specific details are not provided in the available description.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 24 sympatric species; key features are long filaments and green/red-tinged sepals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest openings, woodland
Elevation: < 720 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, Lake, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Sonoma, Santa Clara, Mendocino, Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Napa, San Benito, Tehama, San Francisco, Amador, Kern, Calaveras, Ventura
Bloom period
Ribes californicum var. californicum blooms Feb-Mar.
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 var. californicum native to California?
Yes. Ribes californicum var. californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes californicum var. californicum bloom?
Ribes californicum var. californicum blooms Feb-Mar.
Where in California does Ribes californicum var. californicum grow?
Ribes californicum var. californicum occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, Lake, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Sonoma, Santa Clara and other counties, at elevations of < 720 m.
What plant family does Ribes californicum var. californicum belong to?
Ribes californicum var. californicum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes californicum var. californicum grow in?
Ribes californicum var. californicum grows in Forest openings, woodland.
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.