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Native Plant Database

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Ribes aureum var. villosum (Golden currant)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Ribes aureum var. villosum DC.

Golden currant, Buffalo currant

Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)

Synonyms: Ribes odoratum

USDA Symbol: RIAUV

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is a 6-12 ft., multiple-stemmed, deciduous shrub with upright, arching branching. Each plant is usually surrounded by a mass of young suckering growth. Small, trumpet-shaped, yellow flowers, each with a red center, hang in nodding clusters. Black berries follow. Palmately-lobed, bluish-green foliage turns yellow in fall.

This species is sometimes called R. odoratum. The berries are favorites among birds.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AR , CO , CT , IA , IL , IN , KS , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , SD , TN , TX , VT , WI , WY
Native Distribution: Great Plains from ND & MT to TX; introduced eastward
Native Habitat: Sandy or chalky bluffs; prairies; woodland edges; stream banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(I)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: This is an alternate host of White Pine blister rust. R. odoratum has been included in R. aureum, a more westerly species.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Take softwood cuttings in June or July. These root well when treated with hormone and placed under mist. Seeds may be fall sown or stratified.
Seed Collection: Seeds need to be picked or stripped as soon as they are ripe to lessen losses to birds. Maceration and flotation can be used to extract the seeds.
Seed Treatment: Stratify for three months.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Ribes aureum var. villosum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ribes aureum var. villosum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes aureum var. villosum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-04-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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