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Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Ribes sanguineum

Ribes sanguineum Pursh

Redflower Currant, Blood Currant, Pink-flowered Currant, Red Flowering Currant

Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: RISA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Blood currant is an erect, 4-12 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.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 12 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Black, Blue

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Red , Pink
Bloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

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.

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.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:										FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
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 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: 2022-10-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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