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Ribes aureum
Ribes aureum Pursh
Golden Currant
Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: RIAU
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (NI)
Golden currant is a 3-10 ft., deciduous shrub with light-green, three-lobed leaves and spicy-scented racemes of yellow flowers, turning orange with age, on long, wand-like stems. Berries are either yellow, red or black when ripe.
A native of the West, Golden Currant has been planted eastward in the United States and has escaped from cultivation and naturalized in many places.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Black
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Red , Orange , YellowBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul
Distribution
USA: AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , SD , TN , TX , UT , VT , WA , WI , WYCanada: AB , BC , SK
Native Distribution: Sask. to NM, w. to n.c. WA & CA
Native Habitat: Moist to drier hillsides & river valleys
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Moist to drier soils.
Conditions Comments: The typical species is a very adaptable plant, tolerating standing water to drought. R. odoratum (a Great Plains/Midwest species) has been included in R. aureum. This a host to white pine blister rust.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar to hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Birds, bears and rodents eat the fruit.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
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: Propagation is by twig cuttings and seed.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.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FAC | FACW | FACU | FAC | FACU | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Bibliography
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 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 aureum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ribes aureum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes aureum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-20Research By: TWC Staff