Ribes victoris
Victor's gooseberry
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Ribes victoris (Victor's gooseberry) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by sticky stems and yellow fruits in coastal habitat diagnostic.
Victor's gooseberry is a California native shrub found in northern coastal ranges and San Francisco Bay Area in canyon forests and chaparral at elevations of 130 to 750 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces white flowers with purple-tinged bases, petals curled inward, in clusters of one to two blooms. Growing with stems less than 2 meters tall, it features 1 to 3 nodal spines and puberulent, slightly bristly branches that are sticky to the touch. Its leaves are 1.5 to 5 centimeters wide, sparsely covered with glandular surfaces, creating a delicate textural appearance. The fruit develops as a yellow berry 8 to 10 millimeters long, covered with slight glandular bristles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; sticky stems and yellow fruits in coastal habitat diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyon forests, chaparral
Elevation: 130-750 m
Bloom period
Ribes victoris blooms Mar-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 victoris native to California?
Yes. Ribes victoris is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes victoris bloom?
Ribes victoris blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Ribes victoris belong to?
Ribes victoris is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
Is Ribes victoris rare or endangered?
Ribes victoris carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3S4.
What habitat does Ribes victoris grow in?
Ribes victoris grows in Canyon forests, chaparral.
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.