Native Plants
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.
Ribes laxiflorum
Ribes laxiflorum Pursh
Trailing Black Currant
Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)
Synonym(s): Ribes coloradense
USDA Symbol: RILA3
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
Usually this is a low, spreading shrub less than 3 ft. high but in dense shade it may be a climber up to about 20 ft. long. Branches are a deep reddish-brown. Leaves are five lobed, each lobe somewhat oval to triangular in shape and shallowly toothed. Flower clusters are erect and bear several small flowers. Flower color ranges from greenish-white tinged pink to deep purplish-red. The ensuing berry is purplish-black and bristly.
Berries are favorites among birds.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub , Vine
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Stems spreading, decumbent to vining, up to about 20 feet long, often shorter.
Fruit: Black, Purple.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink , Green , PurpleBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AK , CA , CO , ID , NM , OR , UT , WACanada: BC
Native Distribution: AK, s. along the coast to CA & through B.C. & n. WA to s.w. Alt. & n. ID; also reported in Juab Co., UT
Native Habitat: Wet, coastal woods; mt. slopes
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Wet to mesic soils.
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Propagation
Description: Propagate by seed or cuttings.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: Natural germination normally occurs in the spring following dispersal. Most members of the genus require at least one, fairly lengthy stratification period to break dormancy.
Commercially Avail: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU |
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ribes laxiflorum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ribes laxiflorum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes laxiflorum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-24Research By: TWC Staff