Ribes nevadense aka Mountain Pink Currant

Ribes nevadense is a shrub in the currant family, Grossulariaceae. It is deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves. Common names include Sierra currant and mountain pink currant. Kew gives its native range as California and Nevada. Oregon State also lists it in southern Oregon. It grows in the mountains, including damp ground by streams. Oregon State gives a height range above sea level. This is 4,500–7,500 feet [1,372–2,286 metres]. These records place it in the temperate western United States. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This shrub grows about 3–6 feet [0.9–1.8 metres] tall. It has several stems, not just one main trunk. Its branches spread out in a somewhat loose shape. They give the shrub a sprawling form. The thin, round leaves are bright green. Each leaf spans about 1.2–2.4 inches [3–6 centimetres]. Most leaves have three lobes, but some have five. The lobes have blunt tips, not sharp points. Small, round teeth line the edges of each leaf. The undersides have few hairs or almost none. The plant sheds its leaves as part of its growth cycle.

The flowers hang in groups, or clusters, below the stems. They range in colour from red tones to soft pink. The petals spread just a little at their tips. Oregon State compares them with the flowers of Ribes sanguineum. It notes that Sierra currant has smaller flowers. Blue fruit comes after the flowers. Each fruit spans about 0.3 inches [8 millimetres]. Wax coats its surface, which also has glands. The supplied account does not say if people can eat this species' fruit. It gives no evidence on whether this species is toxic. The currant name alone does not prove food use or safety.

Grow Sierra currant in sun or light shade. Oregon State advises giving it some water in summer. Its home beside streams fits reports that it tolerates very wet ground. The same source says it can grow in nearly standing water. Reports differ on how well it copes with drought. How it fares on dry sites thus remains unclear. Do not take these mixed reports as firm advice to give little water. Oregon State lists it as hardy to USDA Zone 6. Its pink flower clusters and blue fruit add garden interest. The supplied sources give no pest or disease guidance for this species.