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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Monday - May 30, 2011

From: Stroh, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Looking for the identification of spice or cinnamon bush
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

My grandmother had a flowering bush that had little yellow flowers on it and smelled like cinnamon to me. She called it a spice bush. Could you help me name that bush?

ANSWER:

I think perhaps your spice or cinnamon bush is Ribes aureum var. villosum (Golden currant).  Its synonym is Ribes odoratum (Clove currant).  Here are more photos and information.

 

From the Image Gallery


Clove currant
Ribes aureum var. villosum

Clove currant
Ribes aureum var. villosum

Clove currant
Ribes aureum var. villosum

Clove currant
Ribes aureum var. villosum

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