Ribes roezlii var. roezlii
Sierra gooseberry
Photo: parent species Ribes roezlii · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes roezlii var. roezlii (Sierra gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by moderately hairy with large red spiny fruits diagnostic.
Sierra gooseberry is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in forest, chaparral, and woodland habitats at elevations of 200 to 2,850 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers with notable hairy sepals and hypanthium. Growing as a compact shrub less than 1.5 meters tall with multiple stems, it develops a dense, branching structure. Its leaves have soft, fuzzy undersides with a distinctive hairy texture, contributing to the plant's rugged mountain appearance. The shrub produces edible gooseberries that provide food for local wildlife in its high-elevation mountain habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 sympatric species; moderately hairy with large red spiny fruits diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: 200-2850 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Tulare, Fresno, Plumas, Nevada, El Dorado, Riverside, San Diego, Placer, Amador, Modoc, Mendocino, Sonoma, Tehama, Monterey, Orange, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Santa Barbara, Shasta, Sierra, Trinity, Calaveras, Humboldt, Mono, Alpine, Butte, Yuba, Ventura
Bloom period
Ribes roezlii var. roezlii blooms May-Jun.
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. roezlii native to California?
Yes. Ribes roezlii var. roezlii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes roezlii var. roezlii bloom?
Ribes roezlii var. roezlii blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Ribes roezlii var. roezlii grow?
Ribes roezlii var. roezlii occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Tulare, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 200-2850 m.
What plant family does Ribes roezlii var. roezlii belong to?
Ribes roezlii var. roezlii is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes roezlii var. roezlii grow in?
Ribes roezlii var. roezlii grows in Forest, chaparral, woodland.
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.