[3] Ribes viburnifolium is a perennial shrub[4] which grows low to the ground, extending long reddish stems horizontally.

[3][5] Clusters of deep red flowers bloom in late winter and into early spring.

[10] The mainland habitat of Ribes viburnifolium along the southern San Diego and northern Baja California coast consists of coastal sage scrub and coastal succulent scrub,[8] with plants growing in canyons and arroyos with partial shade near the coast.

[11] On the Punta Banda, R. viburnifolium is found growing in moist, wind-swept, and foggy sage scrub and chaparral.

[7] On Cedros Island, this species is found in the pine groves north of the Gran Cañón.