Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Ribes sanguineum (Blood currant)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Ribes sanguineum Pursh

Blood currant, Pink-flowered currant, Red flowering currant, Redflower currant

Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)

USDA Symbol: RISA

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Blood currant is an erect, 4-10 ft., deciduous shrub with many upright stems from the base. On older twigs the dark-green, lobed leaves are clustered on short, lateral spurs. The stiffly erect racemes of pale-pink to dark-red flowers occur along the length of the stems. Fruits are bloomy, bluish-black. This is a variable species, varying most notably in flower color.

Not recommended; carries disease which kills white pine.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Black, Blue
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: CA , ID , OR , WA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: CA Coast Ranges to B.C. & Benewah Co, ID
Native Habitat: Open or partly shady places below 2000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Moist to drier, well-drained soils.
Conditions Comments: Fairly adaptable.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: A nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds

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. Hardwood cuttings, taken in fall are also used. Currants are easily layered as well.
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 three months at 32-36 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

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 sanguineum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Ribes sanguineum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes sanguineum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back