Native Plants
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Ribes americanum
Ribes americanum Mill.
American Black Currant, Wild Black Currant
Grossulariaceae (Currant Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: RIAM2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Small, globular shrub, 3-6 ft. tall, with many slender stems. Palmately-lobed foliage becomes colorful in fall. Flowers are small, bell-shaped and white, hanging in loose clusters. They are followed by purple berries.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Fruit: Black
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Yellow , GreenBloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: CO , CT , DC , DE , IA , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , PA , RI , SD , VA , VT , WI , WV , WYCanada: AB , MB , NB , NS , ON , QC , SK
Native Distribution: N.S. to Alt., s. to NJ, IA, NE & WY
Native Habitat: Open woods; thickets; marshy sites; stream banks
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , ShadeSoil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Variable.
Conditions Comments: Not recommended; carries disease which kills white pine.
Benefit
Use Wildlife: Berries are favorites among birds.Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesThis information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FACW | FACW | FACW | FACW | FACW | FAC |
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Ribes americanum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Ribes americanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Ribes americanum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-20Research By: TWC Staff