Ribes cereum var. inebrians
Mountain wax currant
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes cereum var. inebrians (Mountain wax currant) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by dense non-glandular hairs and acute bract tips.
Mountain wax currant is a California native shrub found in southern Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in open rocky areas at elevations of 2,100 to 3,850 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in small clusters. Growing with multiple branching stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall, it forms a compact, rounded shape with dense woody branches. Its leaves are densely covered with soft, non-glandular hairs, with fine serrated edges and a slightly wrinkled texture. The fruit is a small, waxy red currant typical of its genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; key features are dense non-glandular hairs and acute bract tips
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open rocky areas
Elevation: 2100-3850 m
Outside California: to Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, Arizona
Bloom period
Ribes cereum var. inebrians blooms Jun-Jul.
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 cereum var. inebrians native to California?
Yes. Ribes cereum var. inebrians is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes cereum var. inebrians bloom?
Ribes cereum var. inebrians blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Ribes cereum var. inebrians belong to?
Ribes cereum var. inebrians is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes cereum var. inebrians grow in?
Ribes cereum var. inebrians grows in Open rocky areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-01
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.