Golden currant is a woody, deciduous shrub native to western North America that grows up to 10 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. It has yellow flowers in spring and edible red fruits in summer and fall. The shrub spreads by rhizomes and has an open habit. Golden currant is drought tolerant and thrives in full sun or partial shade with moderate watering and organic fertilizer. It attracts hummingbirds and bees to its flowers and provides food for birds who eat its berries.

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