Ribes hudsonianum aka Northern Black Currant

Ribes hudsonianum is a deciduous shrub in the currant family, Grossulariaceae. Its common names include Hudson Bay currant and northern black currant. Western black currant is another name used for this species. It comes from subarctic North America, Canada, and the northern and western United States. Its range reaches Alaska and several western mountain states. Wild plants grow in swampy woods and on rocky slopes.

This small shrub reaches about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. It sheds its leaves for winter. Flowers appear in May, and insects pollinate them. Each flower has both male and female organs. The fruit measures about 0.2–0.4 inches across. Seeds ripen from July through August. The supplied species evidence gives no details about leaf shape or bark. It also gives no mature spread or flower colour.

Grow this currant in moist soil that drains well. A loam that holds moisture suits it well. It also accepts sandy and clay soils. Soil may be mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline. Plants grow in sun or partial shade. They tolerate shade, but fruit crops decline with less light. A sunny woodland edge or dappled shade offers a suitable setting. PFAF reports cold tolerance to about −20°C. It describes the plant as easy to grow in suitable soil.

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Gardeners can use it for jam and jelly. PFAF gives its food value two points out of five. That source lists no known hazards for the species. It records several past medicinal uses, rather than proven treatments. People used fruit for colds and stem preparations after childbirth. Other preparations used leaves, stems, or roots for various illnesses. These records do not establish that such treatments work or are safe.

This shrub can host a stage of white pine blister rust. PFAF therefore advises against planting it near pine trees. The source does not flag it as weedy. Propagation is possible from seed or cuttings. Fresh seed is best sown in a cold frame during autumn. Stored seed needs four to five months of cold treatment. Young seedlings spend their first winter in a cold frame. They can then go outside in late spring. Half-ripe cuttings can be taken in July or August.