Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Red Flowering Currant

(Ribes sanguineum)

Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Mark Robinson from Williton, UK

CC BY 2.0

Image By: Mark Robinson from Williton, UK

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Mark Robinson from Williton, UK | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 | Uploader: File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Pink_Flowering_Currant_closeup,_Ribes_sanguineum.jpg | Notes: User created page with UploadWizard |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Ribes sanguineum, commonly known as Red Flowering Currant, is a deciduous shrub native to the Pacific Northwest, specifically from west British Columbia to California. It thrives in open woodlands and on forest edges, often found in moist, well-drained soils. This species typically grows to 3 meters (10 feet) tall and equally broad, featuring an upright-arching to rounded habit. It can also be trained into a small tree form. Red Flowering Currant is notable for its racemes of vibrant, pink to red flowers that bloom in early spring, which are not only visually striking but also fragrant, attracting hummingbirds and beneficial insects.

The shrub is highly regarded for its ornamental qualities, including its showy flowers and the blue-black berries that follow. It is used in gardens for border planting, as a specimen, and for wildlife gardens due to its ability to provide nectar and habitat. Red Flowering Currant prefers full sun to part shade and requires medium amounts of water, thriving in well-drained soils. While it is relatively low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and rust, particularly in humid conditions. Pruning after flowering can help maintain its shape and promote vigorous growth.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub
Height: 5-12 feet
Width: 5-12 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Pink, Red
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

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

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, 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., Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Hedges, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands and forest edges, susceptible to powdery mildew and rust

Other Names

Common Names: Red Flower Currant, Winter Currant, Red-Flowering Currant, Red Currant, Blod-Ribs, Blut-Johannisbeere, Groseillier Sanguin, Blodrips, Rode Ribes, Rosenrips

Scientific Names: , Ribes sanguineum, Ribes sanguineum var. albescens, Ribes sanguineum var. atrorubens, Ribes scuphamii, Ribes albidum, Ribes sanguineum f. atrorubens, Ribes sanguineum var. album, Calobotrya sanguinea, Coreosma sanguinea

GBIF Accepted Name: Ribes sanguineum Pursh