Ribes sanguineum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RYE-bees san-GWIN-ee-um
- Description
-
Red Flowering Currant is a deciduous shrub in the gooseberry family that is native to western North America. It can be found growing in numerous habitats, including forest and woodland and areas where shrubs, bushes, and small trees make up the landscape, typically along the coast on north-facing slopes. Plant in the full sun, in well-drained soil. It will tolerate shade but it will not bloom as well. Once established it will tolerate drought. This plant requires little pruning.
When in bloom, the flowers hang down and cover the stems with 10 to 30 pink to red flowers in each cluster. The flowers have a spicy fragrance and are favorited by hummingbirds, providing early spring nectar. Use it in the landscape as a filler in a shrub border, or informal screen. It works well planted as a backdrop to spring bulbs providing a great pop of color coming out of winter.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Female plants are an alternative host for white pine blister rust. All Ribes are prohibited in North Carolina at this time.
SECTION .0400 -WHITE PINE BLISTER RUST02 NCAC 48A .0401CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRY PLANTS
(a) All wild and cultivated currant and gooseberry plants in North Carolina are hereby declared to be dangerous plants and are consequently subject to destruction by the Commissioner of Agriculture or authorized agents wherever found.(b) No person shall knowingly and willfully keep upon his premises any currant or gooseberry plant, or permit such plants to mature seed or otherwise multiply upon his land.
History Note: Authority G.S. 106-65.45; 106-65.46; 106-284.18; 106-420; Eff. January 1, 1985.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Elk River Red'
Red flowers, 8-10'x7' - 'King Edward VII'
Compact, pinkish-red flowers - 'Pokey's Pink'
Light pink flowers - 'Pulborough Scarlet'
Red flowers with white centers - 'White Icicle'
White flowers, blooms early
- 'Elk River Red'
- 'Elk River Red', 'King Edward VII', 'Pokey's Pink', 'Pulborough Scarlet', 'White Icicle'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Elk River Red'
Red flowers, 8-10'x7' - 'King Edward VII'
Compact, pinkish-red flowers - 'Pokey's Pink'
Light pink flowers - 'Pulborough Scarlet'
Red flowers with white centers - 'White Icicle'
White flowers, blooms early
- 'Elk River Red'
- 'Elk River Red', 'King Edward VII', 'Pokey's Pink', 'Pulborough Scarlet', 'White Icicle'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ribes
- Species:
- sanguineum
- Family:
- Grossulariaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The tart fruits of this plant are sometimes used in jams. Native Americans are known to have eaten the fruits of this plant fresh and dried.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Canada, and U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- CA, ID, OR, WA, Canada BC
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar in flowers. A host plant for the Hyalophora euryalus moth. Birds are attracted to the fruits.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Fruits are technically edible but better left for the birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Blue-black round fruits with white bloom, technically edible but are quite sour.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Early spring 1"-3" long clusters of tiny red, pink, or white star-shaped tubular flowers covering the stems with 10-30 flowers in each cluster.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1"-3" long and wide fragrant leaves with a resinous scent, dark green pubesent above with lighter color below. The leaf margins are slightly toothed and have deep veins giving it a wrinkly appearance.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
