Ribes amarum is a species of currant known by the common name bitter gooseberry. It is endemic to California, where it is known from mountains, foothills, and canyons. Its habitat includes chaparral. Ribes amarum is a shrub growing to one to two meters (40-80 inches) in height. Nodes along the stem each bear three spines up to a centimeter (0. 4 inch) in length. The hairy, glandular leaves are 2 to 4 centimeters (0. 8-1. 6 inches) long and generally rounded in shape, divided into 3 to 5 rounded toothed lobes. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or raceme of up to three flowers which hang from leaf axils. The showy flower has five pointed sepals in shades of purple-red which are reflexed upward. At the center is a tubular corolla of white or pink-tinged petals around five stamens and two styles. The fruit is a bristly berry up to 2 centimeters wide which is bright red, ripening purple.

Golden currant is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub with golden spring blooms. The flowers and fruit of this fragrant and attractive shrub make the golden currant a valuable wildlife plant. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees are attracted to the golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. The fruit is an important food source for many bird species as well as small mammals like squirrels and chipmunks. The berries are also used in pies, preserves, and other dishes.

Golden currant is very easy to grow and spreads readily, making it a good choice for revegetation, hedging, and groundcover applications. It grows best in moist conditions and benefits from partial shade, irrigation, and mulching in drier areas. On the coast, it prefers full sun. Inland, it prefers part shade and does best when surrounded by mulch, and grows well under oaks and in mixed chaparral. Once established, golden currant needs no special care.

One of two recognized varieties of the species Ribes aureum, all known by the common name Golden Currant, it is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub 6-10 feet tall. It is native to the inland mountains of California, primarily the Sierras. It tends to have a more upright form than Ribes aureum var gracillimum. It blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers that gradually turn red. Flowers often have a fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Leaves are green, shaped similarly to gooseberry leaves, and turn red in autumn. The plant is deciduous from late December to early February. The shrub produces berries about half an inch in diameter from an early age. Ripe fruits, amber yellow to black in color, are edible, and attract a wide range of birds. This plant is recommended for higher elevation gardens.

Ribes aureum var gracillimum, known by the common name Golden Currant, is a species of small to medium-sized deciduous shrub that grows 3-6 feet tall. It's native to the coast and foothill regions of California, growing most commonly in the southern foothills of the Transverse Range, and more rarely in the coastal ranges as far as the Mendocino National Forest. It blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers, often with a pronounced fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. The flowers attract hummingbirds and monarch butterflies. Leaves are green, shaped similarly to gooseberry leaves, turning red in autumn. The plant is deciduous from late December to early February. The shrub produces berries about half an inch in diameter from an early age. Ripe fruits, amber yellow to black in color, are tasty, and attract a wide range of birds.

While Golden Currants are fairly drought tolerant once mature, they grow best in areas with somewhat more ground water, such as the bottom of slopes, near creeks or canyon bottoms, or near irrigated areas. On the coast, they prefer full sun, and inland, part shade. They do best when surrounded by mulch, and grow well under oak trees and in mixed chaparral. When Golden Currants are thriving, they self-seed and spread out from the original plant and can serve as a groundcover.

Ribes binominatum is a species of currant known by the common names trailing gooseberry and ground gooseberry. It is native to the Klamath Mountains and adjacent northern California Coast Ranges, in far northern California and western Oregon. It grows in higher-elevation forests and meadows. Ribes binominatum is a low, spreading shrub no more than a meter (40 inches) tall, and often quite a bit shorter. Nodes along the stem each bear three spines up to 2 centimeters in length. The hairy, glandular leaves are 2 to 5 centimeters (0. 8-2. 0 inch) long and deeply divided into 3 or 5 rounded, toothed lobes. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or a raceme of up to four flowers which dangling from the branches. The flower has five fuzzy sepals in shades of pale green, sometimes edged with red, which are reflexed upward. At the center is a tubular corolla of white or pinkish petals around five stamens and two shorter styles. The fruit is a yellowish green berry about a centimeter (0. 4 inch) wide which is covered in long prickles which harden into spines.

Ribes bracteosum, the stink currant, is a species of currant native to western coastal North America from southeastern Alaska to Mendocino County in California. Ribes bracteosum is a deciduous shrub, without thorns, growing to 3 m (10 feet) tall. The leaves are 5-20 cm (2-8 inches) across, palmately lobed with 5 or 7 lobes. The flowers are produced in spring after the leaves emerge, on racemes 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) long containing 20-40 flowers; each flower is 5-10 mm (2-4 inches) in diameter, with five white or greenish-tinged petals. The fruit, born in clusters, is dark blue with a whitish bloom, edible but sometimes unpleasant.

Hillside Gooseberry (Ribes californicum) is an easy to grow native shrub. Hillside Gooseberry tends to grow in moist places, at elevations from sea level to nearly 6,000 feet. It will reach 4 to 8 feet high and 2 to 6 feet wide. The dangling flowers, which appear in spring, are pink, purple or yellow. The branches bear spines, so keep this in mind when deciding the planting location.

This plant will grow in part-shade, in sandy or rocky soil, and requires little water once established.

The flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds and the berries make it a valuable wildlife plant, especially to birds. It hosts several butterfly species, including the Tailed Copper, Hoary Comma and Oreas Comma.

Hillside Gooseberry (Ribes californicum var. californicum) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in open places, at elevations from 0-3300 feet.

Ribes canthariforme is a rare North American species of currant known by the common name Moreno currant. The plant is native to southern California, having been found in San Diego County, California (Laguna Mountains and surrounding slopes) and in western Riverside County (Elsinore and San Jacinto Mountains). It is a member of the local chaparral plant community. The most recent estimates indicate that there are about 70 individual plants remaining. Most of these occur on land within Cleveland National Forest, and since there are few serious threats the species is not otherwise specifically protected. Ribes canthariforme is a mostly erect shrub growing 1 to 2. 5 meters tall. The stems are fuzzy and glandular and lack spines and prickles. The thick, densely hairy leaves are 4 to 6 centimeters (1. 6-2. 4 inches) long, generally rounded and divided into three lobes. The leaves are finely textured with wrinkled edges lined with gland-tipped teeth. The inflorescence is a dense, erect, spikelike raceme of up to 25 flowers. The flower is somewhat tubular with five dark-veined pinkish purple sepals spreading into a corolla-like array at the tips. At the center are smaller pale purple petals. The fruit is a purple berry about half a centimeter (0. 2 inch) wide, coated in hairs.

Ribes cereum is a species of currant known by the common names wax currant (R. c. var. pedicellare is known as whisky currant). It is native to western North America, including British Columbia, Alberta, and much of the western United States, from Washington, Oregon, and California east as far as the western Dakotas and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Ribes cereum grows in several types of habitat, including mountain forests in alpine climates, sagebrush, and woodlands. It can grow in many types of soils, including sandy soils and soil made of clay substrates, serpentine soils, and lava beds. This is a spreading or erect shrub growing 20 centimeters (8 inches) to 2 meters (80 inches) tall. It is aromatic, with a "spicy" scent. The stems are fuzzy and often very glandular, and lack spines and prickles. The leaves are somewhat rounded and divided into shallow lobes which are toothed along the edges. The leaves are hairless to quite hairy, and usually studded with visible resin glands, particularly around the edges. The inflorescence is a clustered raceme of 2 to 9 flowers. The small flower is tubular with the white to pink sepals curling open at the tips to form a corolla-like structure. Inside there are minute white or pinkish petals, five stamens, and a two protruding green styles. The fruit is a rather tasteless red berry up to a centimeter (0. 4 inch) wide, with a characteristically long, dried flower remnant at the end.


One of it's former common names (S**** currant) is considered derogatory as a slur used against Native women.

Wax Currant (Ribes cereum var. cereum) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow in dry slopes, at elevations from 4900-13100 feet.

Ribes divaricatum is a species of currant known by several common names, including spreading gooseberry, coast black gooseberry, and wild gooseberry. It is native to the forests, woodlands, and coastal scrub of western North America from British Columbia to California. It is a shrub sometimes reaching 3 meters in height with woody branches with one to three thick brown thorns at leaf nodes. The leaves are generally palmate in shape and edged with teeth. The blades are up to 6 centimeters long and borne on petioles. The flower cluster is a small cluster of hanging flowers, each with reflexed purple-tinted green sepals and smaller, lighter petals encircling long, protruding stamens. The fruit is a berry up to a centimeter wide which is black when ripe. It is similar to Ribes lacustre and Ribes lobbi, but the former has smaller, reddish to maroon flowers and the latter has reddish flowers that resemble those of fuchsias and sticky leaves. The fruit was food for a number of Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest, and other parts of the plant, especially the bark, was used for medicinal purposes.

Ribes divaricatum is a species of in the genus Ribes found in the forests, woodlands, and coastal scrub of western North America from British Columbia to California. The three accepted varieties have various common names which include the word "gooseberry". Other common names include coast black gooseberry, wild gooseberry and, in the UK, Worcesterberry. Ribes divaricatum is a shrub sometimes reaching 3 meters in height with woody branches with one to three thick brown thorns at leaf nodes. The leaves are generally palmate in shape and edged with teeth. The blades are up to 6 centimeters long and borne on petioles. The inflorescence is a small cluster of hanging flowers, each with reflexed purple-tinted green sepals and smaller, lighter petals encircling long, protruding stamens. The fruit is a sweet-tasting berry up to a centimeter wide which is black when ripe. It is similar to Ribes lacustre and Ribes lobbii, but the former has smaller, reddish to maroon flowers and the latter has reddish flowers that resemble those of fuchsias and sticky leaves. Traditional Native American medical plants. The fruit was food for a number of Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest, and other parts of the plant, especially the bark, was used for medicinal purposes.

Ribes divaricatum is a species of in the genus Ribes found in the forests, woodlands, and coastal scrub of western North America from British Columbia to California. The three accepted varieties have various common names which include the word "gooseberry". Other common names include coast black gooseberry, wild gooseberry and, in the UK, Worcesterberry. Ribes divaricatum is a shrub sometimes reaching 3 meters in height with woody branches with one to three thick brown thorns at leaf nodes. The leaves are generally palmate in shape and edged with teeth. The blades are up to 6 centimeters long and borne on petioles. The inflorescence is a small cluster of hanging flowers, each with reflexed purple-tinted green sepals and smaller, lighter petals encircling long, protruding stamens. The fruit is a sweet-tasting berry up to a centimeter wide which is black when ripe. It is similar to Ribes lacustre and Ribes lobbii, but the former has smaller, reddish to maroon flowers and the latter has reddish flowers that resemble those of fuchsias and sticky leaves. Traditional Native American medical plants. The fruit was food for a number of Native American groups of the Pacific Northwest, and other parts of the plant, especially the bark, was used for medicinal purposes.

Ribes hudsonianum is a North American species of currant, known by the common name northern black currant. Ribes hudsonianum grows in moist wooded areas, such as mountain streambanks and in swamp thickets. They are upright to erect shrubs growing one half to 2 meters (20-80 inches) tall. They are aromatic, with a strong scent generally considered unpleasant. Stems are covered in shiny, yellow resin glands that lack spines or prickles. Leaves are up to 10 centimeters long, divided into three, or rarely five, sharp-toothed lobes, having long hairs on the undersides, studded with yellow glands. Inflorescences are erect, spikelike racemes of up to 50 flowers. Each flower is roughly tubular, with the whitish sepals spreading open to reveal smaller whitish petals within. Fruits are bitter-tasting, black berries, about a centimeter (0. 4 inch) wide with a waxy surface, speckled with yellow glands.

Ribes hudsonianum is a North American species of currant, known by the common name northern black currant. Ribes hudsonianum grows in moist wooded areas, such as mountain streambanks and in swamp thickets. They are upright to erect shrubs growing one half to 2 meters (20-80 inches) tall. They are aromatic, with a strong scent generally considered unpleasant. Stems are covered in shiny, yellow resin glands that lack spines or prickles. Leaves are up to 10 centimeters long, divided into three, or rarely five, sharp-toothed lobes, having long hairs on the undersides, studded with yellow glands. Inflorescences are erect, spikelike racemes of up to 50 flowers. Each flower is roughly tubular, with the whitish sepals spreading open to reveal smaller whitish petals within. Fruits are bitter-tasting, black berries, about a centimeter (0. 4 inch) wide with a waxy surface, speckled with yellow glands.

Ribes indecorum is a species of currant known by the common names white-flowered currant and white chaparral currant. It is native to the southern California Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges, from around Santa Barbara County in California south into northern Baja California.

It is an erect shrub approaching three meters in maximum height. The stem is fuzzy and glandular in texture. The deciduous leaves are 1 to 4 centimeters long. The thick, wrinkly blades are divided into three to five toothed lobes, and are hairy, glandular, and aromatic. The inflorescence is a loose raceme of 10 to 25 flowers. The flower is roughly tubular with the white or pink-tinged sepals spreading open to reveal smaller whitish petals inside. Flowers bloom in late winter / early spring, and have an exceptionally pleasant fragrance, among the best of any California native.The fruit is a hairy, sticky very attractive berry that can be orange, purple, pink or red, and are under a centimeter wide.

White Flowering Currant is very drought tolerant once established, but still does does best in part shade, or in spots that retain slightly more moisture, such as creek sides, north or east facing slopes, or adjacent to boulders. Best to avoid direct summer water after this plant is established. It'll go nearly completely summer deciduous, and then spring back to life with the start of the rainy season.

Whitestem Gooseberry (Ribes inerme) is a native shrub that grows in southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 8 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are green and bloom in the mid spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-6600 feet.

Ribes inerme is a species of currant known by the common names whitestem gooseberry and white stemmed gooseberry. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to the Rocky Mountains. It grows in mountain forests, woodlands, and meadows. The less common Ribes inerme var. klamathense, known as Klamath gooseberry, is confined to the states of California and Oregon. Ribes inerme is an erect or spreading thicketlike shrub approaching 3 metres (9. 8 ft) in maximum height. The stem is hairless or bristly and has black resin glands and spines at its nodes. The small leaves are divided deeply into three to five toothed lobes which may be divided partway into smaller lobes. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or raceme of up to five flowers which hangs pendent. The flower has five reddish green sepals which are reflexed upward. At the center are white or pinkish petals and protruding stamens and stigmas. The fruit is an edible hairless greenish, purple, or black berry roughly a centimeter (0. 4 inch) wide. Varieties: Ribes inerme var. inerme Ribes inerme var. klamathense - Klamath gooseberry

The shrub Ribes lacustre is known by the common names prickly currant, swamp gooseberry, and black gooseberry. It is widely distributed, from California to Alaska and across North America to Pennsylvania and Newfoundland. The shrub grows erect to spreading, 0.5-2 meter. Clusters of reddish to maroon flowers bloom in spring. The fruit consists of dark purple berries 6-8 millimeter long.

Ribes lasianthum is a species of currant known by the common names alpine gooseberry and woolly-flowered gooseberry. It is native to California, where it can be found in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, its distribution extending just into Nevada. Ribes lasianthum grows in high mountain habitat, often in open areas. It is a spreading shrub growing one half to one meter (20-40 inches) in height. It has fuzzy, prickly stems, the nodes bearing spines up to a centimeter long. The hairy, glandular leaves are one to two centimeters long and divided into toothed lobes. The inflorescence is an erect raceme of two to four flowers, each less than a centimeters long. The flower has five yellow sepals which are reflexed away from the central corolla, a neat tube of yellow petals. Within the tube are five stamens and two styles. The fruit is a hairless red berry measuring 6 to 7 millimeters wide.

Ribes laxiflorum is a species of currant known by the common names trailing black currant, and spreading currant. It is native to western North America from Alaska and Yukon south as far as northern California and New Mexico; it has also been found in Siberia. Its habitat includes moist mountain forests, open clearings, streambanks, and the borders of mountain roads. Ribes laxiflorum is a spreading, trailing shrub usually growing one half to one meter (20-40 inches) in height. It has been known to take a somewhat vine-like form in appropriate shady habitat with nearby supports, climbing to seven meters (23 feet) in length. It has fuzzy, glandular stems lacking spines and prickles. The hairy, glandular, maple-shaped leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and deeply divided into several pointed lobes lined with dull teeth. The inflorescence is a mostly erect raceme of up to eight flowers. The distinctive flower has five greenish, purplish, or red sepals which are often curved back at the tips. At the center is a corolla of five red or pink petals each measuring a millimeter long, narrow at the base and wider or club-shaped at the tip. Inside the corolla are five red stamens tipped with whitish anthers. The fruit is a purple-black berry measuring four to fourteen millimeters wide which is waxy, hairy, or bristly in texture. Uses. The berries are eaten locally (variously fresh, boiled, or as preserves) by Bella Coola, Haisla, Hanaksiala, Hesquiat, Kwakiutl, Lummi, Makah, Oweekeno, Skagit, and Tanana peoples. Other traditions use R. laxiflorum for: an infusion to make an eyewash (roots and or branches, by the Bella Coolah). Decoctions of: bark to remedy tuberculosis (with the roots, by the Skokomish); or for the common cold (Skagit): leaves and twigs, as a general tonic (Lummi). Woody stems are fashioned into pipe stems (Hesquiat).

Ribes lobbii (known commonly by the names Gummy Gooseberry, Fuchsia-Flowered Gooseberry or Pioneer Gooseberry) is a shrubby, deciduous, shade-intolerant perennial dicot found in the North American west. It was first described in 1876 by Asa Gray. The specific epithet was a dedication to the English plant collector William Lobb. Ribes lobbii is a deciduous, loosely branched shrub, about half a meter to one meter in height. Its stems are spreading, finely hairy, generally having three slender nodal spines, 7-12 millimeter long. It has bark that starts out brown, changing to a deep greyish-red later.

Ribes malvaceum, called "chaparral currant", is a member of the Grossulariaceae (gooseberry family). It is endemic to California. It occurs below 1500 meter in chaparral, foothill oak woodland, and closed-cone pine forest ranging from Baja California to the San Francisco Bay area and inner Northern Coastal Ranges. Less than 2 meters tall, this perennial shrub lacks the characteristic nodal spines which are demonstrated on the stems of many other members in the genus Ribes. The leaf blades (20-50 millimeter) are densely hairy and double toothed. Bright pink flowers produce edible purple berries.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Horticultural selection from Ribes malvaceum var. malvaceum. Dancing Tassels is a beautiful summer deciduous shrub for shady areas. Growing to 6 feet tall, this vase shaped shrub has soft green lobed leaves and peeling red-brown bark. The small, pinkish white flowers are jammed together on pendulous, chandelier-like 4 inch clusters. Dancing Tassels was selected for use in the garden by the Rancho santa Ana Botanical Garden because it sports the longest flower clusters of the species. It is originally from Bryce Canyon on san Clemente Island. Chaparral Currant blooms earlier in winter than the Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum), providing hummingbirds an outstanding nectar source in late fall and early winter. It is also more sun and drought tolerant than R. Sanguineum. After its long flowering period, Dancing Tassels produces dark blue fruits that appeal to a large variety of songbirds and human jelly makers. Tailed Copper butterflies also use it as a larval plant. In coastal areas plant in full sun or part shade, inland it needs filtered shade. It is not finicky about soil type, but it needs good drainage. Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden on san Clemente Island by Bart O' Brien and Tom Hayduk of Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

White chaparral currant (Ribes malvaceum 'Rana White') is a distinctive form of currant that features pure white flowers instead of the usual pink, creating a striking contrast against its true green, aromatic foliage. It grows into an upright shrub reaching 6 feet or more tall and wide. In winter and early spring, short, pendant clusters of fragrant white flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators, followed by sticky berries enjoyed by birds. Extremely drought-adapted once established, it may drop its leaves in late summer and leaf out again in late fall, though with moderate watering it can remain nearly evergreen. Plant in full sun to light shade. Native to chaparral and woodland edges across much of California. Introduced by Rana Nursery.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

This is one of two recognized varieties of Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum). The other is var. viridifolium. Both are known by the same common name. Their ranges are somewhat different but overlapping. Var. Malvaceum is found primarily in the central Coast Ranges from Tehama County to Orange County. Var. viridifolium is found along the coast from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County and northern Baja. For further details see the entry for Ribes malvaceum.

Ribes malvaceum (Montara Rose), Chaparral Currant
Description
Ribes malvaceum, called "chaparral currant", is a member of the gooseberry family. It is endemic to California. This selection from Montara Mountain grows 4 to 6 ft. tall and has deep pink flowers clusters in the spring that produce edible purple berries. It can handle part shade to full sun, and is one of the earliest ribes to start blooming -- often in late winter. Popular with hummingbirds.

Chaparral Currant (Ribes malvaceum var. viridifolium) is a summer-deciduous shrub that native to southern and central California, growing primarily in the transverse range mountains and upper peninsular range mountains.

It grows quickly to about 6 feet in height, with beautiful red to light pink flowers in the winter that attract hummingbirds. It can handle some summer water (1-2x per month), and a wide variety of soil types. It prefers part shade or full shade.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers sun or part shade in coastal sites, and part shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Ribes marshallii is a North American species of currant known by the common names Hupa gooseberry and Marshall's gooseberry. It is endemic to the Klamath Mountains of southern Oregon and northern California. Ribes marshallii grows in mountain coniferous forests. It is a shrub producing arching stems 1 to 2 meters (40-80 inches) long which may root at the tip when it reaches moist substrate. Nodes on the stem bear three spines each up to a centimeter (0. 4 inch) long. The lightly hairy leaves are roughly three centimeters (1. 2 inches) long and are divided into a few widely toothed lobes. Glandular hairs occur on veins and leaf margins. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or raceme of up to three flowers which hang pendent from the branches from leaf axils. The small, showy flower has five pointed purple-red sepals which are reflexed upward. At the center is a tubular corolla of bright yellow petals from which emerge five stamens and two thin, mostly fused styles. The fruit is a prickly oblong berry up to 2 centimeters (0. 8 inch) long which ripens to dark red. The fruits are edible and reputedly palatable.

The canyon gooseberry (Ribes menziesii) is a distinctive plant found only in California and Oregon. There are five to six varieties of the species found across the low elevation mountains of California, especially the Coast Ranges, and the coastal canyons and foothills, into southern Oregon. It can be found in the chaparral plant community. It is in the genus which includes gooseberries and currants. The canyon gooseberry is an aromatic deciduous shrub with very prickly branches growing up to two meters in height. It has somewhat rounded, hairy, hairy green leaves. Its showy hanging flowers have sepals which are reflexed, or folded backwards along the length of the flower. The sepals are fuchsia or purple. The petals are white and extend forward to form a loose tube from which the stamens emerge. The plant fruits purple gooseberries which are edible but are mainly seeds with little fruit. The plant's spines also make collecting fruit unpleasant. The plant is sometimes used as an ornamental in areas of proper climate, such as coastal California, for its attractive spring blooms. The rest of the year, however, the plant is brown and less attractive so it is not in very great demand for garden displays.

Aromatic Canyon Gooseberry (Ribes menziesii var. ixoderme) is a rare native shrub that grows in central California.

Canyon Gooseberry (Ribes menziesii var. menziesii) is a native shrub that grows in central and northern California. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-3500 feet.

Alpine Prickly Current (Ribes montigenum) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is fast growing and moderately long-lived. It grows in an upright form to a height of 1 foot, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are red and striking, and bloom in the early summer. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 6400-12500 feet.

Sierra Currant (Ribes nevadense) is a native shrub in the Grossulariaceae (Currant/Gooseberry) family that grows primarily in the mountainous interior regions of the state. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 6 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are red and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are medium green and deciduous. It tends to grow in open places, at elevations from 3,000-10,000 feet but is said to perform well at lower elevations. It is moderately drought tolerant but can also tolerate more water.

Ribes quercetorum is a species of currant known by the common names rock gooseberry, oak gooseberry and oakwoods gooseberry. It is native to the mountains and hills of California from the San Francisco Bay Area south into Baja California and east into Arizona. Ribes quercetorum grows in woodlands, chaparral, and dry desert slopes and canyons. It is a spreading shrub producing arching stems up to 1. 5 meters (5 feet)long, the nodes along the stems bearing 1 to 3 spines each up to 1. 5 centimeters (0. 6 inch) long. The lightly hairy, glandular leaves are up to 3 centimeters (1. 2 inches) long and are divided into a few lobes which are toothed or lobed at their tips. The inflorescence is a raceme of 2 or 3 small flowers. Each flower has five reflexed yellow sepals around a tube-shaped ring of smaller cream-colored petals. The fruit is an spherical, edible black berry just under a centimeter (0. 4 inch) in diameter.

Sierra Gooseberry (Ribes roezlii) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It is moderately fast growing and long-lived. It grows in a semi-upright form to a height of 5 feet, with active growth during the spring and summer. Flowers are white and striking, and bloom in the late spring. Leaves are dark green and deciduous. It tends to grow at elevations from 0-9200 feet.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Selected for the garden.

Sierra Gooseberry (Ribes roezlii var. roezlii) is a native shrub that grows in northern, southern and central California. It tends to grow at elevations from 3300-9200 feet.

Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a stunning fast-growing native shrub for shady areas. It grows upright with a vase shape, 6 to 8 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide. Its dangling tassel-like flowers are dark pink to red and emerge in winter through spring. With its broad bright green leaves, it is useful as a background plant under oaks or other trees. The fruit is a dark purple oval berry.

Red Flowering Currant will grow in rocky and acidic soil and prefers good drainage. Near the coast it is flexible as to water and exposure. Inland it prefers more water and shade.

Hummingbirds love the flowers and the plant hosts several butterfly species. Birds love the seeds.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selection from the pacific Northwest.

Grows best in sandy, coarse-grained or other fast draining soil. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Pink-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum var. glutinosum), also known as Blood Currant, is a fast-growing shrub with beautiful pendant pink flowers that bloom from winter to spring. This variety, primarily found along the coast and in the Coast Ranges of California, grows upright with a vase-shaped form, reaching up to 10 feet in height and 6 feet in width. The fruit is a dark purple, oval berry, edible but with an insipid taste, making it more suitable for birds.

It thrives in part sun to shade and well-draining acidic soil but adapts to a variety of soils. While it needs some summer water in hot inland areas, it is more drought-tolerant near the coast. This shrub attracts hummingbirds and insects, while its berries are enjoyed by fruit-eating birds. It also hosts up to 80 species of butterflies and moths.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden. Introduced by Rancho santa Ana Botanic Garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected by Roger Raiche on Inverness Ridge in Marin Co.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Introduced by Native sons Nursery from seedling on their property.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selected for the garden.

Tolerates almost any soil type. Prefers part shade in coastal sites, and part shade or shade in inland sites. Selection from Tranquillon Ridge in santa Barbara, under bishop pines. Introduced by Native sons Nursery.

Redflower Currant (Ribes sanguineum var. sanguineum) is a native shrub that grows in Central and Northern California, primarily in the North Coast, the Klamath Mountain Range and North Coast Range regions. It tends to grow at elevations from 1000-7200 feet.

Ribes sericeum is a species of currant known by the common name Lucia gooseberry, or Santa Lucia gooseberry; its Latin epithet of sericeum means "of silk". It is endemic to California, where it is known only from the Santa Lucia Mountains along the Central Coast and an additional isolated population in Santa Barbara County. Ribes sericeum grows on streambanks in forests and scrub habitat. It is an erect shrub growing one to two meters (40-80 inches) tall, its stems densely hairy and covered in prickles and glandular bristles. Nodes along the stem bear three spines each which may be over a centimeter (0. 4 inch) long. The leaves are up to 4 centimeters (1. 6 inches) long and are divided into several lobes with toothed edges. The leaves are hairy and glandular, especially on the undersides. The inflorescence is a solitary flower or a raceme of 2 or 3 flowers. Each flower has five reflexed green, red-tinged or red sepals around a tube-shaped ring of smaller whitish petals. The fruit is a purple berry up to 2. 5 centimeters (1 inch) long which is covered in bristles.