Ribes sericeum
Santa lucia gooseberry, Santa Lucia Gooseberry
(c) Dean Wm. Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ribes sericeum (Santa lucia gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by very long anthers and large purple bristly fruits diagnostic.
Santa lucia gooseberry is a California native shrub found in the southern Coast Ranges in forest openings, coastal scrub, and streamside thickets at elevations of 180 to 800 meters. Flowering from December to April, this plant produces white flowers with petals curled inward, set against green or red sepals. Growing to less than 2 meters tall with dense, glandular-hairy stems that feature three nodal spines, it develops distinctive branching patterns. Its leaves are 2 to 4 centimeters wide, nearly smooth on top and glandular-hairy underneath, with a delicate texture. The fruit is a purple berry 10 to 20 millimeters long, covered in glandular bristles that add textural interest.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; very long anthers and large purple bristly fruits diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Forest openings, coastal scrub, streamside thickets
Elevation: 180-800 m
Bloom period
Ribes sericeum blooms Dec-Apr.
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 sericeum native to California?
Yes. Ribes sericeum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes sericeum bloom?
Ribes sericeum blooms Dec-Apr.
What plant family does Ribes sericeum belong to?
Ribes sericeum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
Is Ribes sericeum rare or endangered?
Ribes sericeum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
What habitat does Ribes sericeum grow in?
Ribes sericeum grows in Forest openings, coastal scrub, streamside thickets.
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.