# Flowering Currant (*Ribes sanguineum Pursh*) Flowering Currant is a beautiful plant with pink or red flowers that smell sweet. It attracts hummingbirds and butterflies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and gardens - **Also known as:** Red Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum ![Flowering Currant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Risa_006_lhp.jpg&width=800) Photo: Steve Hurst @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Risa_006_lhp.jpg) ## Appearance The Flowering Currant is a deciduous shrub that bursts with vibrant pink to deep red bell-shaped flowers in drooping clusters during early spring. Its lobed green leaves provide a lush backdrop to the showy blooms, making it stand out visually from other early-season shrubs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Family:** Grossulariaceae - **Genus:** Ribes ## Interesting facts - It's a cousin to gooseberries, even though it grows without their prickly thorns! - Its tart purple berries are edible, though often used for jams and jellies, not eaten fresh! - Native Americans traditionally used parts of this plant for food and even for dyes. - The 'sanguineum' in its name means 'blood-red,' referring to the vibrant flower color! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Beacon:** Flowering Currant has bright red, tubular flowers packed with nectar that act like a beacon, drawing in hummingbirds for pollination. - **Spring Pioneer:** This plant blooms very early in the year, offering a vital food source for insects and birds when other flowers are still dormant. - **Water Saver:** Its deep root system helps Flowering Currant survive drier periods, drawing essential moisture from deeper soil layers. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 150-300 cm - **Spread:** 150-250 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — feasts on abundant early spring nectar - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects vital pollen and nectar - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on its leaves and twigs - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — disperses seeds by consuming 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. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [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. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## 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 Flowering 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 Flowering Currant? 150-300 cm ### How wide does Flowering Currant spread? 150-250 cm ### How big are the flowers on Flowering Currant? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Flowering Currant bloom? Early spring ### Is Flowering Currant edible? Yes ### Is Flowering Currant toxic? None ### What is Flowering Currant's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Discovery Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/discovery-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Fairhaven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairhaven) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Clatsop State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clatsop-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest [View all places to see Flowering Currant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/flowering-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: [Flowering Currant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flowering-currant)