# Currant Bush (*Antidesma parvifolium F.Muell.*) Currant Bush is a bush that produces small, tart berries. They can be red, black, or white and are great for cooking! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Currant bushes enjoy cooler climates and can be found in gardens and forests. - **Also known as:** Black Currant, Red Currant, Red-flowering Currant, White Currant ![Currant Bush](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426524/objects/5046.jpg) ## Appearance The Currant Bush has glossy, dark green leaves, often with reddish new growth. It produces small, green flowers that develop into clusters of shiny, round berries, which ripen from red to black. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Phyllanthaceae - **Genus:** Antidesma ## Interesting facts - Indigenous Australians have traditionally eaten its tart, juicy berries raw or cooked! - It often grows in dense clusters, making perfect hiding spots for small creatures! - Its common name is tricky; it's not a 'true' currant at all! - Its scientific name, \*parvifolium\*, means 'small-leaved,' referring to its tiny leaves! ## Special abilities - **Drought Defender:** Currant Bush can survive dry spells thanks to its tough leaves and roots that help it conserve precious water. - **Bird Bait:** Currant Bush has tasty berries that attract birds, helping to scatter its seeds far and wide for new plants. - **Sun Seeker:** Currant Bush can adapt its leaves to thrive in both shade and sun, helping it grow in many different places. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-400 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Rose-crowned Fruit-dove (*Ptilinopus regina*) — Feeds on ripe currant bush fruits. - **Eaten by:** Figbird (*Sphecotheres vieilloti*) — Enjoys the sweet, juicy berries. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its small flowers for nectar. ## 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. - [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Temperate Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/temperate-rainforest): This habitat trait identifies species found in temperate rainforests, characterized by significant rainfall, mild temperatures, and dense evergreen or deciduous forests in coastal regions. ## Collections - [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses) - [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Currant Bush? 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 Currant Bush? 150-400 cm ### How wide does Currant Bush spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Currant Bush? 0.2-0.5 cm ### When does Currant Bush bloom? Spring-Summer ### Is Currant Bush edible? Yes ### Is Currant Bush toxic? None ### What is Currant Bush's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Tantalus Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tantalus-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huckleberry-botanic-regional-preserve) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Queen Anne Boulevard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/queen-anne-boulevard) — Washington, US · Park - [Blue Lake Regional Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-lake-regional-park) — Oregon, US · Park - [Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-rodd-hill-and-fisgard-lighthouse-national-historic-sites) — British Columbia, CA · Museum - [Leschi Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/leschi-park) — Washington, US · Park [View all places to see Currant Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/currant-bush) ## 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: [Currant Bush: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/currant-bush)