Ribes hudsonianum, commonly known as Northern Black Currant, is a deciduous shrub native to the cool, moist forests, streambanks, and wetlands of North America, particularly in regions such as the northern Rockies, Alaska, and across Canada from Quebec westward. It typically grows 2 to 7 feet tall and features shiny, yellow resin-dotted stems. The leaves are broadly maple-like, up to 4 inches long, with three to five sharply toothed lobes. In spring, it produces erect racemes of small, tubular, pink to white flowers, which are followed by clusters of black, bitter-tasting berries.

Northern Black Currant is valued for its wildlife support, as the berries provide food for birds and other animals, and the plant serves as a host for butterfly larvae. It is used in naturalized plantings, restoration projects, and as an understory shrub in woodland gardens. This shrub thrives in partial to full shade, requires consistently moist soil, and benefits from organic matter to mimic its native forest floor conditions. While not commonly grown for its fruit in a culinary context due to the bitter taste, it may have medicinal uses. Gardeners should be aware that Ribes species can be a host for white pine blister rust, which is a serious disease for white pines; therefore, it may be restricted or discouraged in areas where this disease is a concern.CC BY-SA 4.0