Wax Currant (Ribes cereum)

Wax Currant

(Ribes cereum)

Dcrjsr

CC BY 3.0

Image By: Dcrjsr

Recorded By:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Ribes cereum, commonly known as Wax Currant, is a deciduous shrub native to a variety of habitats including open woodlands, forest edges, and rocky slopes in Western North America. It can vary greatly in form, sometimes spreading and low to the ground, or erect and reaching up to 2 meters (80 inches) in height. The shrub is aromatic, with foliage that emits a "spicy" scent, especially when crushed. Wax Currant blooms in spring, producing small, tubular flowers with white to pink sepals that curl open at the tips, resembling a corolla. The flowers are not particularly showy but are attractive to pollinators. Inside the flower, there are minute white or pinkish petals, five stamens, and two protruding green styles. The fruit is an orange-red berry, about 1 cm (3⁄8 in) wide, with a long, dried flower remnant at the end, and is often described as tasteless.

Wax Currant is appreciated for its drought tolerance and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it a suitable choice for xeriscaping and naturalistic plantings. It is also used for erosion control on slopes and in restoration projects. The plant’s berries provide food for birds and other wildlife, although they are not particularly palatable to humans. Wax Currant requires minimal maintenance once established and is best grown in full sun to part shade, with low water needs and well-drained soils. It is not known for having significant disease or pest problems, but its foliage can sometimes emit a carrion-like odor due to the hairs on the plant.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub
Height: 3-5 feet
Width: 3-4 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: Pink, White
Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low, Very Low
Drainage: Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden

Natural Habitat

Native to open woodlands, forest edges, and rocky slopes in Western North America

Other Names

Common Names: Squaw Currant, White Currant, Wüsten-Johannisbeere, Gadellier Cireux, Gadellier Sauvage

Scientific Names: , Ribes cereum, Ribes reniforme, Ribes spathianum, Ribes pumilum, Ribes churchii, Ribes viscidulum, Ribes cereum var. farinosum, Ribes inebrians var. spaethianum, Ribes spachii

GBIF Accepted Name: Ribes cereum Douglas