Ribes aureum (Clove Currant)

Clove Currant, Buffalo Currant, Missouri Currant, Golden Currant, Ribes odoratum, Ribes fragrans

Ribes Odoratum, Clove Currant, Buffalo Currant, Missouri Currant, Golden Currant, Ribes aureum, Ribes fragrans, Black Berries, Black Currants, Yellow Flowers, flowering shrub, fragrant shrub

Ribes Odoratum, Clove Currant, Buffalo Currant, Missouri Currant, Ribes aureum, Ribes fragrans, Black Berries, Black Currants, Yellow Flowers, flowering shrub, fragrant shrub

Noted for its fragrant flowers, edible fruits and summer foliage, Ribes aureum (Clove Currant) provides great ornamental value over a long season of interest. An excellent choice for early spring color, this deciduous shrub produces abundant, strongly clove-scented, trumpet-shaped golden yellow flowers on its upright but arching branches. They are followed by drooping clusters of large, edible, shiny black currants in summer. Tasty, the fruits can be eaten fresh from the shrub or used to make juices, jams, jellies, tarts and pies. The attractive foliage of ovate, 3-5 lobed, bluish-green leaves turns yellow in fall.

Somewhat loose and open, this flowering shrub grows with a rounded to irregular shape, up to 6-8 ft. tall and wide (180-240 cm). It may spread by root suckers to form clumps if the suckers are not removed.
A full sun to part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in organically rich, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Prefers full sun but appreciates some shade in hot summer areas. Best flower and berry production occurs in full sun. Tolerates drought and a wide range of soils ranging from dry to seasonally flooded soils, poor soils, clay soils. Consistent moisture is highly welcomed.
Drought tolerant once established, this plant is also clay soil tolerant. Attracting scores of butterflies and birds, it is however ignored by rabbits and deer.
Winner of the GreatPlants award, which is a joint effort between the Nebraska Nursery, Landscape Association and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. The goal of this award is to identify superior ornamental landscape plants that meet the challenging growing conditions of the region.
Low maintenance, this plant may be affected by aphids, leaf spot, powdery mildews, honey fungus and coral spot. Ribes is a host for pine blister rust and, because of this, there is a ban on them in 15 states.
Perfect in shrub borders, woodland gardens, informal hedges or screens, wildlife gardens and near patios.
Prune in late winter to early spring if required. Remove damaged branches to rejuvenate and encourage more prolific fruiting.
Propagate by cuttings or seed.
Native to Minnesota and South Dakota south to Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas

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Requirements

Hardiness	4 - 8
Heat Zones	3 - 8
Climate Zones	1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, A2, A3
Plant Type	Fruits, Shrubs
Plant Family	Grossulariaceae
Genus	Ribes
Common names	Currant, Golden Currant
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Mid, Late) Fall
Height	6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm)
Spread	6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm)
Spacing	72" - 96" (180cm - 240cm)
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Low, Average
Soil Type	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants	Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Pennsylvania, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Clay Soil
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Ribes californicum (California Gooseberry)

Ribes cereum (Wax Currant)

Ribes sanguineum (Red Flowering Currant)

Ribes nigrum ‘Ben Sarek’ (Black Currant)

Ribes nigrum ‘Ben Lomond’ (Black Currant)

Ribes rubrum ‘Red Lake’ (Red Currant)

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Native Plant Alternatives to Ribes rubrum (Red Currant)

Cat Naya,fotoilluvids, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

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