Ribes speciosum
Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes speciosum (Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by unique fuchsia-like red flowers diagnostic.
Fuchsia-flowered gooseberry is a California native shrub found in coastal areas including the central Coast Ranges, southern San Francisco Bay, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in coastal-sage scrub and chaparral at elevations of 5 to 2,125 meters. Flowering from January to May, this plant produces striking red flowers with curled inward petals that dangle in small clusters of 1 to 4 blooms. Growing to less than 2 meters tall with distinctive three-pronged nodal spines and somewhat bristly stems, it forms a dense and intricate shrub. Its semi-deciduous leaves are leathery, 1 to 3.5 centimeters long, with a dark green shiny upper surface and lighter green underside, featuring crenate lobes and a wedge-shaped to truncate base. The fruit is a 10 to 12 millimeter berry covered in dense glandular bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; unique fuchsia-like red flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal-sage scrub, chaparral
Elevation: 5-2125 m
California counties: San Diego, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Santa Clara, Monterey, Alameda
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Ribes speciosum blooms Jan-May.
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 speciosum native to California?
Yes. Ribes speciosum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes speciosum bloom?
Ribes speciosum blooms Jan-May.
Where in California does Ribes speciosum grow?
Ribes speciosum occurs in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of 5-2125 m.
What plant family does Ribes speciosum belong to?
Ribes speciosum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes speciosum grow in?
Ribes speciosum grows in Coastal-sage scrub, chaparral.
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.