Ribes lasianthum
Woolly-flowered gooseberry, Woolly-Flowered Gooseberry
(c) Tim Messick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tim Messick · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes lasianthum (Woolly-flowered gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by densely woolly-hairy throughout, high elevation diagnostic.
Woolly-flowered gooseberry is a California native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada, San Gorgonio Mountains, and Peninsular Ranges in open, rocky areas at elevations of 1,520 to 3,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces yellow flowers in small clusters of 2 to 4 blooms with delicate hypanthiums longer than they are wide. Growing as a compact shrub less than one meter tall, it features distinctive nodal spines and glandular-hairy leaves. Its leaf blades are small, measuring 1 to 2 centimeters long, with a textured surface covered in glandular hairs. The fruit develops as a small, nearly smooth red berry approximately 6 to 7 millimeters in diameter.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; densely woolly-hairy throughout, high elevation diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, rocky areas
Elevation: 1520-3000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Tulare, Alpine, Nevada, Mariposa, Amador, Fresno, Kern, Madera, Inyo, Placer, El Dorado, Tuolumne, San Diego, Calaveras, Mono, San Bernardino, Riverside, Sierra
Outside California: Oregon, Nevada
Bloom period
Ribes lasianthum 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 lasianthum native to California?
Yes. Ribes lasianthum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes lasianthum bloom?
Ribes lasianthum blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Ribes lasianthum grow?
Ribes lasianthum occurs in Los Angeles, Tulare, Alpine, Nevada, Mariposa, Amador, Fresno, Kern and other counties, at elevations of 1520-3000 m.
What plant family does Ribes lasianthum belong to?
Ribes lasianthum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes lasianthum grow in?
Ribes lasianthum 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 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.