Ribes americanumIndiana Native
American Black Currant

 Plant Type:
 Growth Forms:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flower Notes:
Green (Greenish-white.)
 Foliage Notes:
Green; Multi-Colored (Golden yellow to reddish orange)
 Fruit Notes:
Black
 Ultimate Height:
3-6 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
3-6 feet
 Soil Notes:
Prefers wet, well-drained soils but adaptable.
 Range:
North America, East of the Rockies
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves are simple, palmate, incised, 3 to 5 lobed, dark green, glabrous to hariy, and presence of glandular dots that are golden in color at 1 1/2 to 3 1/2" in length and width. Petioles are also hairy. Flowers are greenish-white in color and are produced in racemes alternately, where 5 to 15 flowers per raceme. Individual flowers are 1/3" in length, and 5 petaled. Fruits are fleshy, greenish-red immature becoming black with maturity at 1/4 to 1/2" in diameter.

Additional Information

American Black Currant is a shade and wet soil tolerant shrub species often found in our Indiana woodlands. Small greenish-white flowers bloom in May which leads to dark red to black fruits that ripen in late August/September. When placed in full sun, a brilliant reddish orange fall color is produced but often golden yellow in the fall. The edible fruits are used in jams and jellies and are desirable food source for wildlife. An alternative host for white pine blister rust.

When Ribes americanum has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Fruiting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

1 Ribes americanum found

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= Heritage plant = Memorial plant
Number Accession ID Location
12023_00570*ALYNN

Other plants like this Ribes americanum (American Black Currant)

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