# wax currant (*Ribes cereum*) The wax currant is a small shrub that grows tasty, sweet berries. These berries are often covered in a waxy coating, which helps keep them fresh and delicious for animals and people to enjoy! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![wax currant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ribes_cereum_var_cereum_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ribes_cereum_var_cereum_2.jpg) ## Appearance The wax currant has distinctive, rounded leaves covered in a waxy, sticky resin, giving them a dull, greenish-gray hue. Its small, tubular flowers range from pinkish-white to pale red, maturing into shiny red or orange berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Saxifragales - **Family:** Grossulariaceae - **Genus:** Ribes ## Interesting facts - Its name "cereum" means "waxy," just like a crayon! - Many native bee species absolutely love its tiny, tube-shaped flowers! - Some birds use its dense branches for safe, cozy nesting spots! - You can smell its unique, spicy scent just by touching its leaves! ## Special abilities - **Drought Defender:** The wax currant has sticky, waxy leaves that help it store water and survive in dry, arid environments. - **Scent Shield:** It can produce a strong, resinous scent from its leaves, which helps deter hungry animals from nibbling on it. - **Berry Beacon:** This plant grows bright red berries, acting like a beacon to birds, who then help spread its seeds far and wide. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-200 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 - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feeds on its ripe, juicy berries. - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Visits the small, tubular flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — Consumes its sweet berries when available. ## Traits - [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. - [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 check with an adult before eating any wild berries. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify wax 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 wax currant? 50-200 cm ### How wide does wax currant spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on wax currant? 0.5-1 cm ### When does wax currant bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is wax currant edible? Yes ### Is wax currant toxic? None ### What is wax currant's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Bryce Canyon Lodge Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-lodge-historic-district) — Utah, US · Historic District - [Bryce Canyon National Park Scenic Trails Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bryce-canyon-national-park-scenic-trails-historic-district) — Utah, US · Trail - [Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/strattons-independence-mine-and-mill) — Colorado, US · Historic Site - [Bromley Rock Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bromley-rock-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Cripple Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cripple-creek-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Fort George Wright](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-george-wright) — Washington, US · Historic Site [View all places to see wax currant](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wax-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: [Wax Currant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wax-currant)