Ribes marshallii
Marshall's gooseberry, Marshall's Gooseberry
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ribes marshallii (Marshall's gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by stems rooting at tips plus bright yellow hooded petals diagnostic.
Marshall's gooseberry is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges in montane forest at elevations of 1,200 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces bright yellow flowers with purple sepals, each bloom appearing deeply concave with a hooded tip. Growing as an arched shrub less than 2 meters tall with three distinctive nodal spines, it develops branches that can root at their tips. Its leaves are approximately 2.5 to 3.5 centimeters wide, nearly glabrous and smooth-textured. The fruit develops as a dark red, oblong berry 10 to 20 millimeters long, sparely covered with appressed hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; stems rooting at tips plus bright yellow hooded petals diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Montane forest
Elevation: 1200-2100 m
California counties: Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Ribes marshallii blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 marshallii native to California?
Yes. Ribes marshallii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes marshallii bloom?
Ribes marshallii blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Ribes marshallii grow?
Ribes marshallii occurs in Humboldt, Siskiyou, Trinity, Del Norte, at elevations of 1200-2100 m.
What plant family does Ribes marshallii belong to?
Ribes marshallii is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
Is Ribes marshallii rare or endangered?
Ribes marshallii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.