Hillside Gooseberry

Hillside gooseberry is a sparse erect shrub with spindly, thorny branches, reaching a max height of 1.4 meters (about 4 ½ feet). The spiked twigs are covered in multi-lobed leaves, which range from smooth to hairy. The shiny green leaves are 1-3 cm long and divided into 3-5 cm toothed lobes. The hanging flowers have 5 red to green petals, which curve upwards, and slender white inner petals that surround pollen-bearing stamens. The spiky red berry is a cm wide.

Basic Information

• Member of the Grossulariaceae (Currant or Gooseberry) family

• Deciduous shrub

• There are two recognized variety of this plant

  • Ribes californicum var. californicum - mostly Coast Ranges from Ventura County to Mendocino County

  • Ribes californicum var. hesperium - San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California

Habitat

• Native to the coast and coastal mountains of California from Mendocino County south to Orange County

  • Endemic to California (ie. found only in)

• Commonly found in forest clearings, woodlands, chaparral, canyons, and stream sides

Ecological Role

• Flowers are very attractive to hummingbirds

• Birds love to eat the berries

• Hosts several butterfly species including the Tailed Copper, Hoary Comma and Oreas Comma

Reproduction

• Blooms from December to March

Alternative Names

• California Gooseberry

Historical Uses

• A number of tribes, including the Kawaiisu and Mendocino Native Americans, ate the berries

  • Eaten fresh, dried, or as a jelly