Ribes menziesii var. menziesii
Canyon gooseberry
(c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes menziesii var. menziesii (Canyon gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by dense glandular bristles and reflexed purple sepals diagnostic.
Canyon gooseberry is a California native shrub found in northern coastal, central coastal, San Francisco Bay, and southern coastal regions in forest openings and chaparral at elevations below 1,820 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces white to pink flowers with red-tinged petals in small clusters. Growing up to 3 meters tall with arching branches, it forms a dense, multi-stemmed shrub with spreading habit. Its leaves are dark green, somewhat rounded, with 3 to 5 lobes, typically 2 to 5 centimeters wide, and not strongly aromatic. The fruit is a bluish-black to purple gooseberry that provides food for local wildlife.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; dense glandular bristles and reflexed purple sepals diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest openings, chaparral
Elevation: < 1820 m
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Ribes menziesii var. menziesii blooms Feb-Apr.
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 menziesii var. menziesii native to California?
Yes. Ribes menziesii var. menziesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes menziesii var. menziesii bloom?
Ribes menziesii var. menziesii blooms Feb-Apr.
What plant family does Ribes menziesii var. menziesii belong to?
Ribes menziesii var. menziesii is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes menziesii var. menziesii grow in?
Ribes menziesii var. menziesii grows in Forest openings, chaparral.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.