Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum
Straggle bush, Straggle Bush
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum (Straggle bush) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by tall arched growth, white petals, and very long filaments.
Straggle bush is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, and central western California in coastal bluffs and forest edges at elevations of 5 to 1,485 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces delicate white flowers with petals 1 to 2 millimeters long in small clusters. Growing to less than 3 meters tall with spreading branches, it forms an open, somewhat irregular shape. Its branches are adorned with leaves that vary in arrangement, creating a distinctive tangled appearance. The plant's small white flowers feature long filaments over 5 millimeters in length, contributing to its graceful botanical character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; key features are tall arched growth, white petals, and very long filaments
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Coastal bluffs, forest edges
Elevation: 5-1485 m
California counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Santa Barbara, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Trinity, Lake, Los Angeles, Colusa
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum blooms Mar-May.
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 divaricatum var. pubiflorum native to California?
Yes. Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum bloom?
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum grow?
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum occurs in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Marin, Santa Barbara, Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Santa Cruz and other counties, at elevations of 5-1485 m.
What plant family does Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum belong to?
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum grow in?
Ribes divaricatum var. pubiflorum grows in Uncommon. Coastal bluffs, forest edges.
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.