Red Flowering Currant

Carried by 38 nurseries

Estimated plant range Estimated plant range

Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Plant description

Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a stunning fast-growing native shrub for shady areas. It grows upright with a vase shape, 6 to 8 feet high and 6 to 10 feet wide. Its dangling tassel-like flowers are dark pink to red and emerge in winter through spring. With its broad bright green leaves, it is useful as a background plant under oaks or other trees. The fruit is a dark purple oval berry.

Red Flowering Currant will grow in rocky and acidic soil and prefers good drainage. Near the coast it is flexible as to water and exposure. Inland it prefers more water and shade.

Hummingbirds love the flowers and the plant hosts several butterfly species. Birds love the seeds.

Plant overview

Plant type

Shrub

Size

6 - 13 ft Tall
7 ft Wide

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Fast, Moderate

Dormancy

Winter Deciduous

Fragrance

Pleasant

Color

Red, Pink

Flowering season

Spring, Winter

Special uses

Deer resistant

Landscaping information

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Low

Summer irrigation

Max 3x / month once established

Ease of care

Easy

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 5° F

Soil drainage

Medium

Soil description

Tolerates a variety of soils.
Soil PH: 5.5 - 7.0

Propagation

For propagating by seed: 3.5 to 5 months stratification (USDA Forest Service 1974)

Natural setting

Site type

Found along the coast and in the Coast Ranges, often on north-facing slopes. It occurs in several habitats including chaparral, forest and woodland.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Closed-cone Pine Forest, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Companion plants

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Trees: Maples (Acer spp.), Alders (Alnus spp.), Giant Chinquapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla), Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Coast Silktassel (Garrya elliptica), Pines (Pinus spp.), Cottonwood (Populus spp.), Oaks (Quercus spp.), and Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica)

Shrubs: Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Ceanothus spp., Dogwood (Cornus spp.), Coffeeberry (Frangula spp.), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor), and Snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.)

Hummingbirds

Bats

Birds

Bees

Caterpillars

Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

1 confirmed and 85 likely

Confirmed Likely

See all

Ceanothus Silkmoth

Hyalophora euryalus

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

Aglais milberti

Agrochola pulchella

Agrochola purpurea

Alternative names

Common names:

Redflower Currant, Flowering Currant

Sources

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