Ribes indecorum
White-flowering currant
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes indecorum (White-flowering currant) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by white-barked stems and low coastal elevation diagnostic.
White-flowering currant is a California native shrub found in southern California regions including the Santa Catalina Mountains, southern coastal areas, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral and coastal-sage scrub at elevations of 20 to 1,760 meters. Flowering from December to March, this plant produces delicate white flowers in clusters of 10 to 25 blooms with pink bracts. Growing to less than 3 meters tall with erect stems lacking nodal spines, it forms a dense, compact shrub. Its thick leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long, green and hairy on the upper surface, with white woolly undersides and finely serrated edges. The fruit is a 6 to 7 millimeter purple, hairy berry with stalked glands.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; white-barked stems and low coastal elevation diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral, coastal-sage scrub
Elevation: 20-1760 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Imperial, Monterey, Alpine
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ribes indecorum blooms Dec-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 indecorum native to California?
Yes. Ribes indecorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes indecorum bloom?
Ribes indecorum blooms Dec-Mar.
Where in California does Ribes indecorum grow?
Ribes indecorum occurs in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 20-1760 m.
What plant family does Ribes indecorum belong to?
Ribes indecorum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes indecorum grow in?
Ribes indecorum grows in Chaparral, coastal-sage scrub.
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.