# American Black Currant (*Ribes americanum*) The American Black Currant is a small bush that grows tasty, dark berries. These berries are not only delicious but also very healthy! They can be found in many gardens and forests. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![American Black Currant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ribes_americanum.jpg&width=800) Photo: erutuon, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ribes_americanum.jpg) ## Appearance The American Black Currant is a deciduous shrub with deeply lobed, maple-like leaves that turn yellow in fall. It has small, bell-shaped, yellowish-green flowers that hang in drooping clusters. Its distinguishing feature is its shiny, dark purple-black berries that ripen in summer. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Grossulariaceae - **Genus:** Ribes ## Interesting facts - Crushing a leaf releases a musky smell, a unique way to identify this plant! - Each tiny flower has five petals, often hiding under the leaves in clusters. - Indigenous peoples traditionally used parts of this plant for various purposes. - These berries have a bold, tart taste perfect for jellies and pies! ## Special abilities - **Scented Shield:** American Black Currant leaves release a strong musky scent when crushed, which helps it deter some hungry herbivores. - **Berry Bonanza:** American Black Currant produces tart, nutrient-rich dark berries that serve as an important food source for wildlife. - **Root Anchor:** American Black Currant has a dense root system that helps it stabilize soil, preventing erosion, especially near water. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-200 cm - **Spread:** 100-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring_to_early_summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar from flowers - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Eats ripe berries, spreading seeds - **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on leaves and twigs - **Eaten by:** American black bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Feasts on plentiful berries ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before picking or eating berries from plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Black Currant? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is American Black Currant? 100-200 cm ### How wide does American Black Currant spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on American Black Currant? 0.5-1 cm ### When does American Black Currant bloom? Spring_to_early_summer ### Is American Black Currant edible? Yes ### Is American Black Currant toxic? None ### What is American Black Currant's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Minnesota Landscape Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-landscape-arboretum) — Minnesota, US · Botanical Garden - [SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sea-life-minnesota-aquarium) — Minnesota, US · Zoo - [SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sea-life-minnesota-aquarium-minnesota) — Minnesota, US · Aquarium [View all places to see American Black Currant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-black-currant) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [American Black Currant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-black-currant)