Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum
Blood currant
Photo: parent species Ribes sanguineum · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum (Blood currant) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by drooping pink-white flower clusters vs erect red clusters diagnostic.
Blood currant is a California native shrub found in northern coastal, northern coastal rim, and central western California regions in diverse habitats at elevations below 2,320 meters. Flowering from February to April, this plant produces pink to white flowers in distinctive pendent clusters. Growing with multiple stems 1 to 2 meters tall, it forms an open, spreading shrub structure. Its leaves have blade-like surfaces that are sparsely hairy underneath, with short glands along the leaf veins. The plant's graceful, drooping flower clusters and delicate pink to white blossoms make it a distinctive component of California's coastal and coastal rim landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 27 sympatric species; drooping pink-white flower clusters vs erect red clusters diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Many habitats
Elevation: < 2320 m
California counties: Humboldt, Orange, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Monterey, Del Norte, Alameda, Marin, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Mendocino, San Benito, Los Angeles, Napa, Tehama, Siskiyou, Trinity, Nevada, Solano
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum 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 sanguineum var. glutinosum native to California?
Yes. Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum bloom?
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum blooms Feb-Apr.
Where in California does Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum grow?
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum occurs in Humboldt, Orange, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of < 2320 m.
What plant family does Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum belong to?
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum grow in?
Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum grows in Many habitats.
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.