Ribes sanguineum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RYE-bees san-GWIN-ee-um
- Description
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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. When in bloom, the flowers hang down and cover the stems with 10 to 30 flowers in each cluster.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:
- 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:
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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.
- 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
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fruit Description:
- Blue-black with white bloom, technically edible but not tasty.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- 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, pubesent with lighter color below.
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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 Theme:
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
