Ribes viscosissimum
Sticky currant
(c) Walter Siegmund, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Ribes viscosissimum (Sticky currant) is a native California shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, recognized by fragrant sticky glandular leaves and cup-tipped anthers diagnostic.
Sticky currant is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Coast Ranges, California Range Highlands, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Modoc Plateau in sagebrush scrub and forest habitats at elevations of 960 to 3,030 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white-green to pink flowers in clusters of 4 to 15 blooms, with delicate petals 3 millimeters long. Growing to less than 1.5 meters tall with smooth stems and no nodal spines, it forms a compact shrubby structure. Its leaves are notably fragrant, with thick gray-green blades 3 to 8 centimeters long, featuring distinctive crenate edges and glandular surfaces. The fruit develops as a black to glaucous berry approximately 10 to 12 millimeters in diameter.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; fragrant sticky glandular leaves and cup-tipped anthers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sagebrush scrub, forest
Elevation: 960-3030 m
California counties: El Dorado, Butte, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Nevada, Lassen, Placer, Sierra, Tulare, Modoc, Inyo, Tuolumne, Kern, Fresno, Amador, Alpine, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Mariposa, Mendocino, Plumas, Tehama, Los Angeles, Madera, Calaveras, Mono
Outside California: to British Columbia, Montana, Colorado
Bloom period
Ribes viscosissimum blooms May-Jul.
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 viscosissimum native to California?
Yes. Ribes viscosissimum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Ribes viscosissimum bloom?
Ribes viscosissimum blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Ribes viscosissimum grow?
Ribes viscosissimum occurs in El Dorado, Butte, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Nevada, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 960-3030 m.
What plant family does Ribes viscosissimum belong to?
Ribes viscosissimum is in the Grossulariaceae family, genus Ribes.
What habitat does Ribes viscosissimum grow in?
Ribes viscosissimum grows in Sagebrush scrub, forest.
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.