Ribes lacustre
Swamp currant, Swamp Currant
(c) Brian Finzel, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Brian Finzel · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes lacustre (Swamp currant) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by stems densely prickly between nodes diagnostic.
Swamp currant is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and high Cascade Ranges along creeks, seeps, and meadow margins at elevations of 1,065 to 2,525 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces purple and cream-colored flowers with darker veins, set in compact clusters of 5 to 15 blossoms. Growing less than one meter tall with prostrate to ascending stems that have 3 to 9 distinctive nodal spines, the plant features bristly internodes. Its leaves are deeply lobed with 3 to 7 segments, dark green on the upper surface and light green underneath, reaching 3 to 5 centimeters wide. The fruit develops as a small black berry with glandular hairs, 4 to 6 millimeters in diameter.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; stems densely prickly between nodes diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Along creeks, seeps, meadow margins
Elevation: 1065-2525 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Tulare, Humboldt, Alpine, Trinity, Tehama, Mono, Mariposa, Del Norte, Shasta, Placer, Tuolumne
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern North America
Bloom period
Ribes lacustre 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 lacustre native to California?
Yes. Ribes lacustre is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes lacustre bloom?
Ribes lacustre blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Ribes lacustre grow?
Ribes lacustre occurs in Siskiyou, Tulare, Humboldt, Alpine, Trinity, Tehama, Mono, Mariposa and other counties, at elevations of 1065-2525 m.
What plant family does Ribes lacustre belong to?
Ribes lacustre is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes lacustre grow in?
Ribes lacustre grows in Along creeks, seeps, meadow margins.
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.