Ribes sanguineum aka Flowering Currant

Ribes sanguineum, or flowering currant, belongs to the currant family. This deciduous shrub comes from western North America. Its range runs from western Canada to California and northern Guadalupe. It grows in woods, open valleys, and foothills. Garden sources give heights of 5–10 feet (1.5–3 metres). Some plants reach 12 feet (3.7 metres), with a similar spread. Several stems form an upright shrub with arching branches. Growth is fast, and the outline becomes rounded with age.

Young stems are green and bear fine hairs. Thin bark starts with orange or red tones. It turns brown and peels as the stems age. The green leaves grow in turn along each stem. Each has three to five lobes and uneven, toothed edges. Deep veins give the leaves a wrinkled look. Fine hairs cover the top, while pale hairs coat the underside. Crushed leaves give off a resin-like scent. Leaves may turn yellow in fall before they drop.

Flowers open in early spring, often before the leaves. Hanging racemes hold 10 to 30 small, tube-shaped blooms. Flower colour ranges from white through pink to red. The flowers have a spicy scent and supply early nectar. Bees and hummingbirds visit them. Round berries ripen in summer and turn purple or blue-black. A pale, waxy coat covers their skin. Birds and small mammals eat the fruit. The shrub also offers nesting cover and hosts the Hyalophora euryalus moth.

Full sun gives the best flower display. Shade reduces bloom, though the shrub can grow there. It needs soil that drains well and holds some moisture. It accepts clay, loam, sand, and chalk across a wide pH range. Established plants can cope with drought. High humidity can cause problems in the southeastern United States. Sources list USDA zones 6–8 and UK hardiness H6. Use it in borders, wildlife gardens, or loose hedges. Trim hedges after bloom, and take hardwood cuttings in winter.

Possible pests include aphids, scale insects, gall mites, and currant borers. Leaf spot, mildew, rust, and root fungi can also occur. It can host white pine blister rust. North Carolina bans currants because of that disease. The fruit is edible fresh, dried, or cooked into jam. Its sour or bland taste limits its food value. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards or medicinal uses.