Scientific Family
Saxifragaceae
Synonyms
Ribes palmatum, Ribes tenuiflorum
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Similar species
Ribes cereum
A densely branched, erect, long-lived and fast growing shrub. Attracts bees, flies, butterflies and hummingbirds. Drops leaves in a drought.
Stems erect, spineless, mostly hairless. Leaves mostly 3-lobed to 2 inches wide. Sepals bright yellow, hairless; sepal tube cylindric to 3/4 inch long. Petals yellow or becoming orange, to 1/8 inch long. Ovary hairless. Berries are mostly black or red.
Height
3 to 6 feet
Width
3 to 6 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Moist canyons, along streams, under tall trees on floodplains and upland moisture catchments. Indicator of shallow groundwater.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
6000
Leaves
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Triangular
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Leaves are wedge-shaped, 1 to 2 inches long, 3-lobed with a few coarse teeth near the ends of the lobes, somewhat thickened, glossy green above and paler below.
Flowers
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Flowers are in 2 inch long clusters of 5 to 18 flowers. The golden yellow flowers are trumpet-shaped with a spicy fragrance, sepals are 2 to 3 times longer than spreading yellow petals, stamens are about equal to the petals in length.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Yellow, red, purple or black
Fruit type
Berry-like
Marble-sized fruits vary in color, ranging from yellow to orange when fresh and red to black to purplish-black when ripe.