Wax Currant, White Squaw Currant, Western Red Currant, Whisky Currant
Ribes cereum (Wax Currant) is a compact, mound-forming, deciduous shrub with numerous smooth-barked branches clad with small, somewhat rounded, 3-5 lobed leaves. The light-green foliage is studded with resin glands and turns shades of yellow in the fall. From mid-spring to mid-summer, a profusion of pale pink, bell-shaped flowers appear in drooping clusters. They attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. The blossoms give way to bright-red berries. The fruits are used for making jam, jelly, or pie – unless hungry birds feast on them. Wax Currant is not rhizomatous and reproduces mainly by seed. This western US native provides food and cover for wildlife and is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
| Hardiness |
5 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Grossulariaceae |
| Genus | Ribes |
| Common names | Currant |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spread |
3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spacing |
36" - 60" (90cm - 150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | California, Rocky Mountains, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
5 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Grossulariaceae |
| Genus | Ribes |
| Common names | Currant |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spread |
3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spacing |
36" - 60" (90cm - 150cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fruit & Berries |
| Native Plants | California, Rocky Mountains, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage |
How many Ribes cereum (Wax Currant) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Ribes cereum (Wax Currant) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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