Ribes californicum var. hesperium
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. hesperium (California gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by hairy leaves, red sepals, and short filaments.
California gooseberry is a California native shrub found in western Transverse Ranges, San Gabriel Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in the Santa Ana Mountains within chaparral and woodland habitats at elevations of 150 to 1,670 meters. Flowering from January to March, this plant produces red-sepaled flowers with delicate white petals. Growing with a spreading, somewhat arching form reaching up to 2 meters tall, it develops multiple woody stems. Its leaves are notably hairy, creating a soft textural appearance with broadly rounded lobes. The shrub produces edible fruits that are characteristic of the gooseberry family, typically covered in fine bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 15 sympatric species; key features are hairy leaves, red sepals, and short filaments
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 150-1670 m
Bloom period
Ribes californicum var. hesperium blooms Jan-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. hesperium native to California?
Yes. Ribes californicum var. hesperium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes californicum var. hesperium bloom?
Ribes californicum var. hesperium blooms Jan-Mar.
What plant family does Ribes californicum var. hesperium belong to?
Ribes californicum var. hesperium is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes californicum var. hesperium grow in?
Ribes californicum var. hesperium grows in Chaparral, 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.