Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Ribes viscosissimum is a North American species of currant known by the common name sticky currant. It is native to western Canada and the western United States from British Columbia and Alberta south as far as California, Arizona, and Colorado. Ribes viscosissimum grows in mountain forests, streambanks, and plateau sagebrush. It is a spreading to erect shrub growing one to two meters (40-80 inches) in height, its stem coated in sticky glandular hairs but lacking spines and bristles. It is resinous and fragrant. The highly glandular leaves have thick, rough blades divided into 3 rounded, toothed lobes, the lobes about the same size rather than having the middle lobe larger than the others as in some related species. The blades may be 8 centimeters (3. 2 inches) long, borne on petioles up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) in length. The inflorescence is an erect or drooping raceme of several flowers clustered together. Each flower has a bell-shaped coat of five whitish, greenish, or pink-tinged sepals which spread at the tips into a corolla-like array, sometimes becoming reflexed. Inside are whitish petals surrounding the stamens and stigmas. The fruit is an edible blue-black berry a centimeter (0. 4 inch) long or longer.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

3 - 7 ft Tall

Form

Upright

Growth rate

Moderate

Calscape icon
Color

White, Yellow, Blue, Black

Flowering season

Spring

Sun

Full Sun

Soil description

Prefers sandy or loamy soils. Does not grow well in clay soils.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7*, 15, 16

Site type

Wet places

Plant communities

Wetland-Riparian

Hummingbirds
Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 80 likely

Confirmed Likely

Agrochola purpurea

Miranda Underwing

Amphipyra pyramidoides