Plant information

1. Golden Currant – Ribes aureum var. gracillimum (RY (or REE)-bees AWE-ree-um)
Family: Grossulariaceae (Gooseberry Family)
Native to: Western North America, in streambeds, ravines, washes and mountain slopes.
Growth characteristics: woody perennial shrub mature height: to 10 ft. mature width: 8-10 ft.
Erect, deciduous woody shrub that spreads by rhizomes. Branches may have somewhat “weeping” growth habit. Roots not particularly deep (8-16 inches). Open habit for a gooseberry.
Blooms/fruits: Covered with yellow flowers in spring. Edible fruits ripen in summer-fall.
Uses in the garden: Flower and edible fruits make it an excellent addition to an edibles garden. Showy flowers in spring and red leaves in fall make it a good specimen plant. Excellent as windbreak, shrub, hedge or on stream banks. Good soil stabilizer. Great food source for birds and small animals.
Sensible substitute for: small non-native yellow-flowering shrubs such as Scotch Broom.
Attracts: Flowers attract many hummingbirds, bees, butterflies (Coppers, Monarchs, others). The berries are prized by many birds including Robins, Finches, Towhees.
Requirements:
Element
Requirement
Sun
Full sun to partial shade; can take northern exposures
Soil
Not particular about texture, pH
Water
Some summer water for good fruits; moderate drought tolerance
Fertilizer
Fruits probably better with added organic matter (such as compost or manure)
Other
Tolerates alkali soils, wind
Management: Prune out dead branches when dormant. Can aggressively prune, including removing roots, to control spread. Limiting water availability will limit spread.
Propagation: from seed: may require cold storage or alternating cold/warm pretreatment. By cuttings: relatively easy to propagate from dormant cuttings. Choose thickest stems.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 2, 7, 12-14, 20 12/7/14
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2. Ribes aureum var. gracillimum
Golden currant