Ribes americanumIndiana NativeIndiana 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)
 Stem Notes:
New twigs are green and hairy and eventually mature to smooth and gray. Older stems are dark red with white lenticels
 Fruit Notes:
Black
 Ultimate Height:
3-6 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
3-6 feet
 Bloom Times:
 Fruiting Times:
 Soil Water Requirements:
 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 hardy, 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

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Fruiting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
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1 Ribes americanum found

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

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