Plants 0.5-1.2 m. Stems erect, pubescent; spines at nodes 1-3, 4-8 mm; prickles on internodes absent. Leaves: petiole 0.6-1.8 cm, pubescent; blade roundish, 3-5-lobed, cleft 1/3-3/4 to midrib, 1.2-2.5 cm, base truncate to cordate, surfaces glabrous, softly ciliate, or puberulent or densely hoary-pubescent, not glandular abaxially, puberulent adaxially, lobes rounded, margins toothed, apex rounded. Inflorescences pendent, solitary flowers or 2-flowered racemes, 2-4 cm, axis short-pubescent, stipitate-glandular. Pedicels not jointed, 1-2 mm, pubescent, stipitate-glandular; bracts broadly ovate, 4-5 mm, pubescent, stipitate-glandular. Flowers: hypanthium maroon, narrowly tubular, 6 mm (1/2 as long as sepals), glabrous, puberulent, or densely hoary-pubescent, not stipitate-glandular; sepals not overlapping, reflexed, maroon, lanceolate, 7-10 mm; petals connivent, erect, white, oblong, inrolled, 3-5 mm; nectary disc not prominent; stamens 1.5-2 times as long as petals; filaments linear, 4-5 mm, glabrous; anthers maroon, lanceolate, somewhat sagittate, 3-4 mm, apex apiculate; ovary white-hairy and bristly, a few bristles gland-tipped; styles connate nearly to middle, 9-11 mm, glabrous. Berries palatable, purple, globose, 14-25 mm, pubescent, stipitate-glandular, longer hairs not gland-tipped, with long, stout, glandular or eglandular spines.

Ribes roezlii occurs in the South Coast and North Coast ranges of California and adjacent Oregon and in the Sierra Nevada in California and adjacent Nevada.