Close up of a stem loaded with flowers of the Red Flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum). One of over 100 Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Flower closeup of the Red Flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum). One of over 100 Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Closeup of young Red Flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum). One of over 100 Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Closeup of young Red Flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum). One of over 100 Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.
Leaves and fruit of Red Flowering Current (Ribes sanguineum). One of over 100 Pacific Northwest native plants available at Sparrowhawk Native Plants Nursery in Portland, Oregon.

Red Flowering Currant

Ribes sanguineum

  • Size at maturity: 4-10' tall, 3-10' wide
  • Canopy layer: large shrub
  • Light requirements: full sun, part sun/part shade
  • Moisture requirements: dry to moist soil
  • Growth rate: medium
  • Special features: wildlife favorite, supports hummingbirds

The flowers of the Red Flowering Currant may range in color from pale pink to deep red. They begin to appear in March and are a source of early food for hummingbirds. The individual flowers of Red Flowering Currant are small (1/3”), but they occur in many 2–4” clusters of 10–20 flowers, to produce a very beautiful display. The round blue-black berries are almost always completely eaten by birds before the end of summer. (Portland Plant List, 2016)

Photo Credit 1: "Blut-Johannisbeere (Ribes sanguineum)" by blumenbiene is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Photo Credit 2: "Blut-Johannisbeere (Ribes sanguineum)" by Harald52 is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Photo Credits 3 & 4: Tara Lemezis

Photo Credit 5: "Ribes sanguineum" by chuck b. is licensed under CC BY 2.0