Golden Currant

Ribes aureum var. aureum is one of two varieties of golden currant. It is a medium sized winter-deciduous shrub reaching 6 – 10 ft. tall by 6 ft. wide and tends to have a more upright form than the gracillimum variety.

The golden yellow flowers bloom in spring and have a sweet fragrance reminiscent of cloves and vanilla. They are highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies for their nectar. The berries are edible for humans and birds!

This variety can tolerate many soils as long as it has adequate moisture– in the wild it tends to grow in canyons, creeks, and high elevations. It pairs well with riparian species such as maples, alders, ninebark, mock orange, dogwood, and western spice bush.

Lifeform:

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade

Water: High, Light, Moderate

Soil: Clay, Loam, Rocky

Other: Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Moths

Container	D-16, D-40
Ecological Value	Birds relish in the berries., Nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths. Likely larval host plant of several butterfly and moth species such as Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Tailed Copper, and White-lined Sphinx moth.
Historical Uses	The fruit is edible for humans and is eaten by countless indigenous communities throughout its range (Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Klamath, Okanagan, Paiute, etc.)
Distribution	Inland mountains of California (primarily the Sierras)
Elevation	1930″ – 8247″
Habitat	Moister areas, canyon bottoms, near creeks, typically in mountains between 2500 and 7800 ft.
Communities	wetland-riparian

The Watershed Nursery Cooperative:

California Native Plants and Habitat Enhancement Services

Ribes aureum var. aureum

Golden Currant

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