Ribes sanguineum

Ribes sanguineum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Saxifragales
Family:	Grossulariaceae
Genus:	Ribes
Species:	R. sanguineum
Binomial name
Ribes sanguineum Pursh

Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant or Red-flowering Currant) is a species of currant native to western coastal North America from central British Columbia south to central California.

Description

It is a deciduous shrub growing to 4 m tall. The bark is dark brownish-grey with prominent paler brown lenticels. The leaves are 2-7 cm long and broad, palmately lobed with five lobes; when young in spring, they have a strong resinous scent. The flowers are produced in early spring at the same time as the leaves emerge, on racemes 3-7 cm long of 5-30 flowers; each flower is 5-10 mm diameter, with five red or pink petals. The fruit is dark purple oval berry 1 cm long, edible but with an insipid taste.

Cultivation

Ribes sanguineum and its varieties and cultivars are a very popular garden shrub, grown for the brightly colored and scented flowers in early spring, and birds and habitat support. It was introduced into cultivation by 19th century Scottish botanist David Douglas.

Varieties

• var. glutinosum
• var. sanguineum

Cultivars

Numerous cultivars have been selected with flowers ranging from white to dark red, and include:

• 'King Edward VII', with red flowers
• 'Pulborough Scarlet', also with red flowers
• 'White Icicle', with white flowers

Gallery

• 

  Flowers buds open in early spring as leaves emerge.

• 

  Spring Buds on Pink Flowering Currant (R. sanguineum var. glutinosum)

• 

  Racemes of 5-30 flowers are 3-7 cm long.

• 

  Ribes sanguineum var. sanguineum, Deception Pass State Park

External references

• Plants of British Columbia: Ribes sanguineum
• Jepson Flora Project: Ribes sanguineum