Ribes americanum

The Wild Black Currant is a lovely shrub with edible small black berries. This species is an ideal shrub to utilize for shoreline restoration as it is esthetically pleasing, attracts wildlife such as song birds and grows best in partly shaded moist areas. However, this species should not be planted in the vicinity of pine trees as it is a vector for white pine blister rust. Wild Black Currant is a member of the Gooseberry family and is characterized by having alternating leaves that are 3 to 8cm long with 3-5 sharp lobes. This shrub’s bell-shaped flower clusters are creamy white to yellow and about 9mm long which appear in early June. These flowers give way to small edible black berries which are best when cooked into jams, jellies, and pies. Furthermore, this species differs from other currants as it possesses branches that are slightly hairy, but not prickly and noticeable resin dots on the undersides of the leaves.

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Scientific Name: Ribes americanum
Type: Shrub
Height: 1-2m
Spread:
Moisture Level: moist, wet
Light Conditions: full sun, part sun
Soil Conditions: sand, clay, loam, rocky, acidic
Zone (Hardiness of Canada): 3 to 7