Ribes roezlii var. amictum
Hoary gooseberry, Hoary Gooseberry
Photo: parent species Ribes roezlii · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ribes roezlii var. amictum (Hoary gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by densely white-hairy throughout diagnostic.
Hoary gooseberry is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and Cascade Range Highlands in forest edges and woodlands at elevations of 15 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to greenish flowers with densely white-hairy hypanthium and sepals. Growing to less than 1.5 meters tall with spreading branches, it forms a compact woodland shrub. Its leaves have distinctive blades densely covered in white hair on the undersides, creating a soft, silvery-gray appearance. The fruit is a distinctive gooseberry, typical of the Ribes genus.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; densely white-hairy throughout diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest edges, woodland
Elevation: 15-2000 m
Bloom period
Ribes roezlii var. amictum blooms Mar-May.
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 roezlii var. amictum native to California?
Yes. Ribes roezlii var. amictum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes roezlii var. amictum bloom?
Ribes roezlii var. amictum blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Ribes roezlii var. amictum belong to?
Ribes roezlii var. amictum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
Is Ribes roezlii var. amictum rare or endangered?
Ribes roezlii var. amictum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Ribes roezlii var. amictum grow in?
Ribes roezlii var. amictum grows in Forest edges, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.