Ribes aureum

Habit: rhizomatous, upright, thornless shrub with numerous slightly arching branches forming an irregular crown. Bark is reddish brown with small hairs when young turning smooth, hairless and gray with age. Pale green, thick leaves have 3-5 rounded lobes with smooth to only few toothed margins. Inflorescence is an elongated, drooping raceme of 5-15 flowers. Individual flowers are yellow, and tubular, with a ring of small orange-red petals and a pleasant scent of clove. The fruit is a small berry ripening from yellow to black and edible. Blooms April through May. Leaves turn an orangey-red in the fall.

Ecology: found across much of the United States, except the southeastern states, in coniferous forests, moist woodlands and grasslands, elevations from 2600-8500 ft (800-2600 m).

Growing Conditions: full sun to partial shade, dry to moist soil. Golden currant is exceptionally cold hardy and tolerates standing water to drought.

Attracts many hummingbirds, while the fruit is a valuable food source for songbirds and a variety of small mammals.

Always seek advice from a professional before consuming or using a plant medicinally.