Carried by 23 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
One of two recognized varieties of the species Ribes aureum, all known by the common name Golden Currant, it is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub 6-10 feet tall. It is native to the inland mountains of California, primarily the Sierras. It tends to have a more upright form than Ribes aureum var gracillimum. It blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers that gradually turn red. Flowers often have a fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Leaves are green, shaped similarly to gooseberry leaves, and turn red in autumn. The plant is deciduous from late December to early February. The shrub produces berries about half an inch in diameter from an early age. Ripe fruits, amber yellow to black in color, are edible, and attract a wide range of birds. This plant is recommended for higher elevation gardens.
Shrub
6 - 10 ft Tall
6 ft Wide
Winter Deciduous
Pleasant
Yellow, Red
Spring
Groundcover
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Low, Very Low
Max 1x / month once established
Moderate
Tolerates cold to -20° F
Fast, Medium, Slow
Tolerant of a variety of soils as long as adequate moisture is available.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0
Seed or cuttings
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6*, 7*, 8*, 9*, 10*, 11, 12, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*
Moister areas, canyon bottoms, near creeks, typically in mountains between 2500 and 7800 ft.
Wetland-Riparian
Use with Maple (Acer spp.), Alder (Alnus spp.), Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus), Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii), Western Spice Bush (Calycanthus occidentalis), Dogwood (Cornus spp.), Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor), wild Azalea (Rhododendron columbianum or occidentale), Wild Rose (Rosa spp.), Meadow Rue (Thalictrum fendleri), Snowdrop Bush (Styrax redivivus), Yellow Monkeyflower (Erythranthe guttata), and Huckleberry (Vaccinum ovatum).
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 68 likely
Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Aglais milberti
Western Avocado Leafroller Moth
Amorbia cuneana
Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus
Yellow-Headed Cutworm Moth
Apamea amputatrix