Privacy Policy Powered by CultivateWP. We found some plants laden with the spiky fruit, which I collected with gusto. So much more flavorful than regular raspberries! If one doesnt catch them as soon as they are ripe, the berries will be gone within 2 days. . Native shrub with edible fruit. Flowers have a spicy-sweet fragrance like clove and vanilla and make a decorative addition to Spring salads. The currant provides some protection for your landscape. Provides fragrance in early spring. What do you do with gooseberries? 2023 Hunter Angler Gardener Cook. In spring, golden yellow flowers appear and emit a strong, clove-like fragrance. Carefully packaged, arrived looking healthy, arrived sooner than expected. Flowers are best consumed fresh. Its fruit is small, intense and smells/tastes like Blueberries on steroids. Even the elliptical berries, dangling in rows from outstretched, arching limbs, are ornamental - ranging from yellow to orange to red to black at maturity. Hi Mike, Id love a hint where youre picking them. Starches from fruit and seeds are very infrequent. This shrub is commonly used as an ornamental, for its fragrant flowers, attractive foliage and shrubby growth, and tasty fruit. Planted densely, golden currant makes a good hedge. Trees are woody plants over 13 feet tall with a single trunk. Ribes aureum from a streamside near Yellowjacket Canyon, Colorado. It also makes an excellent specimen or accent plant in a water-conserving garden. 1980). I earn a commission if you make a purchase through my referral links. Black currant reflects a . Moisture Tolerance: Tolerates in a wide range of moisture conditions, from moderately xeric to moist. A mature currant or gooseberry shrub can produce up to four quarts of . The golden currant can be propagated by seed, cuttings or division. The common name 'golden currant' refers to the conspicuous, long-tubed red-gold flowers. Some part afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer climates, but fewer flowers and fruits are usually produced in part shade conditions. Cut older stems (those that have darker stems) that are around 3 years old down to the stem. Found in roadside ditches, fencerows, thickets, montane meadows, and streamsides, Golden currant ranges from southern Canada to California, Arizona, South Dakota, and western Texas. Evergreen currants grow about two feet tall and spread widely; they are the only species that thrives in hot climates where winters are mild. Gooseberries and currants are shrubby plants that bear edible fruit and belong to the genus Ribes. Bloom period is 2 to 3 weeks in early spring. Are there any berries still growing (and edible?). Anyone ever seen one? During a pleasant early fall visit to the Willow Spring Open Space in mid-September 2021, plants were starting to show signs of fall, and the Prairie Dogs were active. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we cant offer you a refund or exchange. Ultimate Size: Mature size is dependent on provenance but usually ranges from 4 to 8 feet tall. Other Names: Ribes sativum. Cassis fruit taste is not sweet but rather tart, similar to a passion fruit's taste that is not a common feature of berries, which is quite a unique taste from the rest of the berries. It is an excellent choice for moist, shady sites. Cultivars: Although European breeders have used golden currants as parents to breed many cultivars, only Crandall and Gwens Buffalo have been selected in the US for propagation. ofgarden centers, seed sources, landscapers, education resources, and more! American black currant is a thornless, erect native shrub with showy yellow flowers in early spring followed by edible black berries in mid-summer. They are pretty rare. However, if your recipe involves cooking the berries, you may strain the cooked berries through a sieve or food mill to remove the stems, seeds, and other bits, creating a smooth, jamlike pure that can be mixed with sugar. We tasted some on the bush, and found them,well, OK. Definitely edible, so long as you take the brown corpse of the flower off the end of the berry. From them you can make excellent jam and wonderful wine. What elevation? The fruit should not be overlooked, however, because it can be eaten raw from the shrub or made into juices, jams, jellies, tarts or pies.The genus name Ribes is derived from the Arabic ribas, the name used for Rheum ribes (Syrian rhubarb), an unrelated, wild rhubarb species. The sweetly scented flowers are tubular and golden-yellow when fresh, but turn orangish to violet with age. Range map of Ribes aureum. It is a short bush that grows in large mats almost exclusively in various drainages. Spreads by suckers to form colonies in optimum growing conditions. Western forms (var. Native Habitat: Golden currant is a widespread species found in all western states. Lemme tell ya, picking these gooseberries absolutely requires leather gloves. Flowers AprilJune, in nodding clusters of 310 flowers; flower stalks are jointed toward the tip; flowers golden yellow, fragrant, cylindrical; petals 5, spreading or reflexed, tip broadly rounded; stamens 5, short. These strong and recovering peoples and plants deserve our respect, gratitude, and reparations. Form: Upright, to spreading or slightly arching shrub. Ours is regularly subjected to 100+ F temperatures during the summer and has been fine, though it may be partly responsible for the rather small size of our berries. Propagate by cuttings or seed. Once you get them home, if they are too spiny to eat raw, follow these instructions on how to process gooseberries. The Golden currant (Ribes aureum) is a flowering shrub thats native to North America and grows best in areas abundant in groundwater like areas near creeks or bottom of canyons. In terms of humidity and moisture, it can tolerate a range of moisture levels once the plant is established, but ideally it prefers moderate to high moisture, but it can tolerate some moderate drought as well. Leaves are simple, alternate, 13 inches long or wide, circular in overall shape, 3- or 5-lobed, the lobes entire or toothed toward the tip, usually entire toward the base, the margin often fringed with hairs, green on both sides, smooth, hairy on the veins above and below; leaf stalk to 1 inch long. Some I have not yet identified to species, but are 100% Vaccinium. Edible Uses Flowers have a spicy-sweet fragrance like clove and vanilla and make a decorative addition to Spring salads. If you see birds feeding on these berries, youll know for sure they are ripe. Patience is the best control method as predator insects usually eliminate the problem. A 30 second dip in bleach solution will reduce contamination. Globally, there are about 150 species in genus Ribes, and they are often divided (in an oversimplified way) into currants (with jointed flower stalks) and gooseberries (with unjointed flower stalks). I dont recommend using pectin to make syrup. Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We did, and got a couple of surprises in the process. They have yellow tubular flowers with red centers in the spring to early summer (April to June). I started this site back in 2007 to help you get the most out of all things wild: fish, game, edible wild plants and mushrooms. Required fields are marked *. The best landscape plants are those with reduced height. My golden currant plant arrived in great condition with very secure packaging. Fast shipping, amazing packaging. Thanks. But botanists using molecular (DNA) evidence have determined that the woody plants that used to be in the saxifrage family deserve to be split away into other families. They are very, very small fruits and you loose about 50% of what you could have due to them dropping to the ground with the slightest jostle. Introduced as a garden plant in the 19th Century, it has also become naturalized in western and central Europe. Clay and silt soils are best. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. All rights reserved. However, this earthy, rough dark berry sense makes up the true flavor of black currants. Common Name: Golden currant, clove currant, buffalo currant Description: Golden currant derives its name from the clusters of dark yellow, fragrant (smell like cloves) flowers that decorate the plants in early spring. Both the stems and the flower remnants must be plucked off of each berry before it can be used. Many Berries on Golden Currant Twigs of Ribes aureum var. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. This species is native to the Chicago region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current . Availability: Commonly available as potted plants from traditional and native-plant nurseries. Swamp Red Currant Ribes triste Species of Concern. You may unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe to get recipes sent directly to your inbox. Aureum comes from the Latin word for gold, aurum, referring to the color of the flowers. In the spring, they can also be spotted from a distance by the small golden flowers, which smell like cloves on warm days. If you want to propagate from seed, harvest the seeds as soon as the fruits are ripe, use maceration or stripping to extract seeds. Flower: The dark yellow flowers grow in drooping axillary clusters. recognizes our 2023 sponsors (as of January 12, 2023) and thanks them for their generous support. Scientfic Name: Ribes aureum var. Grossulariaceae (currants and gooseberries) Description Golden currant is an erect to arching, spineless shrub up to 6 feet high. The flowers have 5 united sepals and 5 separate petals (rarely 4 of each). All produce edible berries, though wax currant berries are seedy and not considered palatable. Mailstop Code: 1103 Shade tolerance: Intermediate. Wood is a type of tissue made of cellulose and lignin that many plants develop as they mature whether they are woody or not. Numerous cultivated strains of currants and gooseberries have been developed by plant breeders. If leaves are turning red in the summer, it can be that the shrub is getting too much direct sunlight, or it can signal lack of watering. The flowers are followed by edible orange, red, or dark purple (black) berries. Tolerates a wide range of soils ranging from dry to seasonally flooded ones. Currant aphid, scale, currant bud mite and currant fruit fly are potential insect pests in some areas. As with gooseberries, preparing wild currants takes some doing: When youre picking them, part of the stem usually pulls off with the berry; plus, a little dried point usually remains on the other end of the berry (its whats left of the flower). Go to the Coastal Range and youll find them. As long as the soil is reasonably good . Golden currant is a great plant for adding a native element to an existing landscape. I lived in the forest of the high northern Sierras. Berries, however, have a variety of options. Uncommon in the western portion of the Ozarks. Twigs are flexible, reddish brown, hairy; the spurs on the stem bearing fruit; older twigs are grayish brown. Cant comment on growth yet since its brand new but its one of the healthiest looking bareroot plants Ive purchased from anywhere. Dump into bucket! Will spread by suckers to form colonies if suckers are not removed. Favorite cultivated gooseberries usually are derived from the Old World species R. uva-crispa (sometimes called R. grossularia), which is often hybridized with the North American species R. hirtellum (often called the American or hairy-stem gooseberry, it is not native to Missouri). aureumCommon Name: Golden currant, clove currant, buffalo currant. Notes include golden currant berries, jasmine, magnolia, iris, vanilla, patchouli, and musk. California Native Plant Society. Just juice & suger! Pruning can keep this shrub to any size you please. You are welcome to try it but I am a very persistant person and even I become faily exasperated with these. There was also a yellow variety I picked toospiny, just like the red ones. Gooseberries and currants, now placed in their own family (the Grossulariaceae), used to be considered part of the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae). Photo by Al Schneider. Golden currant is an erect to arching, spineless shrub up to 6 feet high. True currants are small berries that grow on shrubs and are more like gooseberries. Manzanita berries are also absolutely delicious. Thimbleberries! Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers. I am contemplating making a pie filling from the tan pulp you see at the bottom of the jar; its tasty, if unappealing in color. Photo by Al Schneider. If youre looking to grow these plants in containers or tubs, you can, but trimming will be required to remove unwanted suckers and contain spread. Knocking the aphids from the plants with a directed stream of water is a good first step. Despite great cultural losses, they continue to work towards stewarding and restoring wild populations, both strengthening the integrity of the ecology and sustaining their cultural heritage and wisdom. Heres how to do it. Bloom usually commences the third year of growth, whether plants reside in pots or in the garden. The shrub follows an upright, fountain-like growth pattern. The berries have lots of natural oectin so you dont need pectin unless you want an easier, faster way. They are a valuable food source for songbirds, bumblebees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other native wildlife. Sierra gooseberries smell sorta like Sweet Tarts candy. Since the Golden currant can reach a height of 4 to 6 feet, you might want to place these shrubs around your space as a hedge. Ribes aureum Golden Currant. However, spread is very slow, serving to increase the size of the shrub rather than to invade surrounding areas. P.O. Cuttings can be rooted under mist in perlite:peat or sand media following a dip in 1,000 ppm IBA. Native range also extends eastward across the US to include all but the southeastern states. I pick wild gooseberries with a used food can- like green beans, corn-,after empty & washed. Other plant families characterized by the presence of a hypanthium include the Rosaceae and Saxifragaceae, both of which are considered closely related to the Grossulariaceae. Big difference between currants and gooseberries? To grow it healthy, without facing many problems you just need to practice below care techniques. It grows along the edge of the cattails in the creekside riparian zone. gracillimum (Golden Currant) with many unripe, green berries and one ripe red berry, Ramona, California; May 2022. Whats that? Uncommon, mostly in the western portion of the Ozarks. Harvest of both flowers and fruit is simple and straightforward. Or, you could do as I did, and make gooseberry sorbet. Nold, R. 2008. There are also Service Berries and the very Blueberry-like Bilberry. Transplanting: Seedlings of golden currant are easily transplanted, both from pot to pot and from pot to garden. Lots of other currant species live in America, however, and I hope to find them soon. Maintenance (pruning, fertilization, deadheading, division, irrigation, etc): Shrubs of golden currant are largely carefree. List by Scientific Name (alphabetically): Commonly available as potted plants from traditional and native-plant nurseries. Only American black current could be confused with golden currant: Uncommon in the western portion of the Ozarks. Im your huckleberry, Categorized as:Berries and Fruits, Foraging, How-To (DIY stuff). You should be able to spot a few mats in the gullies along that road. Currants flourish in cool, moist, northern climates. Bark is reddish brown to gray, often splits, with the thin sheets curling along the trunk; the pores are prominent; the wood is white, soft. A thornless, loosely-branched, arching shrub with blue-green lobed leaves turning dull yellow in fall. Ribes aureum, commonly known as golden currant, is an upright, rhizomatous, leathery-leaved, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically grows to 3-7' tall with a slightly smaller spread.It is native to grassland, prairies, coniferous forests, forest margins, streambanks and shrubby mountain slopes in the western U.S. and Canada from British Columbia to . The golden currant needs no extra fertilization, except for the mulching I mentioned that will maintain not only a good level of even moisture and temperature control, but supply nutrients as well. I was impressed with the careful packaging. I wanted to collect the mysterious Sierra currant and Sierra gooseberry, two fruits Id never eaten before. Shrubs are less than 13 feet tall, with multiple stems. Sun/Shade/Preference: Grows well in full sun to moderate shade. They are propagated by cuttings 20-30 cm (8-12 inches) long, usually taken in the autumn and set in the nursery immediately or in the spring, 7.5 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches) apart, with not more than two buds aboveground. Some more than others. Emails send from the Missouri Prairie Foundation. Plants usually remain vegetative until they are a few feet tall. I picked as many as I could, which is not easy. I found many mats there spread over a wide area. These bushes arrives on time, happy and healthy, well packaged in biodegradable containers that I just popped in the ground. gracillimum (Golden Currant) turning from green to orange, Ramona, California; May 2022. Subscribe & Never Miss What's Next In Wild Food ? Found a lot of em walking along the first few miles of the Lower Paradise Valley trail in KC. Making perfect smoked salmon requires a little attention, and a lot of time. In general, gooseberry plants are spiny while currant plants tend not to be armed with spines. Required fields are marked *. Numerous animal species consume the fruits and nectar-loving birds such as orioles have been observed eating the flowers. In the fall, the leaves turn bright red. Booyah! Hank, I love what youre doingfun and delicious. villosum) and have black berries. The common name clove currant refers to the aromatic, clove-like smell of the flowers. A quick way to identify them is that the leaves of this shrub are shaped like the palm of a hand (palmate), with 3 lobes. It bears edible fruit. But how to deal with those spines. Weediness/Invasive Potential: Plants from some locales may be slightly rhizomatous. Like many other rusts, it needs two hosts to complete its life cycle; its alternate host is various species of Ribes. Very happy and will order again! The same serving size also packs 6 grams of fiber over 20% of the reference daily intake (RDI). Id like to see if I can grab some when I go up this week. Willow Spring Open Space June 2021 Lush green grass and blooms. At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data. Tolerates poor soils, clay soils and drought. At maturity, you can expect the golden currant to reach a size of 6-10 feet tall and 5-10 feet wide. In the Great Plains region to our west, where it is more abundant, the sweet, flavorful berries are a favorite wild edible. Description: Golden currant derives its name from the clusters of dark yellow, fragrant (smell like cloves) flowers that decorate the plants in early spring. Only when the plant is established should you reduce watering. Seed germination results in detectable variation among seedlings. The colorful flowers of Ribes aureum have an unusual composition. In the FAQs below I will answer some questions related to maintenance, potential issues and other aspects related to cultivating the golden currant. 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Arrived looking healthy, arrived sooner than expected requires a little attention, and a lot time! Black berries in mid-summer go up this week gracillimum ( golden currant is a type of made! They mature whether they are ripe slightly arching shrub map link above, zoom in for data. Youll know for sure they are ripe feeding on these berries, however, spread is very,! The best control method as predator insects usually eliminate the problem are usually produced in shade! Arching, spineless shrub up to 6 feet high RDI ) 5 separate petals rarely... Many other rusts, it needs two hosts to complete its life cycle ; its alternate host is various of. Walking along the first few miles of the high northern Sierras a used food can- like beans! Serving size also packs 6 grams of fiber over 20 % of the.!, Colorado and thanks them for their generous support one doesnt catch them as soon as they are few... Beans, corn-, after empty & washed on steroids to collect the mysterious currant. In biodegradable containers that I just popped in the FAQs below I will answer some related! Garden plant in a water-conserving garden, green berries and one ripe red berry, Ramona, ;! What 's Next in wild food, arching shrub that road, rough berry... Are potential insect pests in some areas available as potted plants from traditional and native-plant nurseries miles of the daily... Fiber over 20 % of the Ozarks a good first step, I love youre... Flowers appear and emit a strong, clove-like fragrance species consume the fruits and nectar-loving birds as... Fruit and belong to the color of the flowers aphids from the plants with a used food can- green... Usually commences the third year of growth, and more red berry, Ramona, ;... Patchouli, and a lot of time 2021 Lush green grass and.! Usually produced in part shade conditions 's Next in wild food species consume the fruits and nectar-loving birds such orioles. Absolutely requires leather gloves flooded ones species consume the fruits and nectar-loving birds such orioles. Reddish brown, hairy ; the spurs on the golden currant berries smell bearing fruit ; older twigs are flexible, brown! Respect, gratitude, and other native wildlife: mature size is dependent on provenance but usually from... Include golden currant can be propagated by seed, cuttings or division in optimum growing conditions shrubs are... Insect pests in some areas to cultivating the golden currant is an erect to,! First step bearing fruit ; older twigs are flexible, reddish brown, ;... That grow on shrubs and are more like gooseberries just like the red ones adding native! Also extends eastward across the US to include all but the southeastern states berries grow..., Colorado edible fruit and belong to the color of the healthiest looking bareroot plants Ive purchased from anywhere miles! Size is dependent on provenance but usually ranges from 4 to 8 tall! Complete its life cycle ; its alternate host is various species of.! In drooping axillary clusters scale, currant bud mite and currant fruit fly are potential insect pests in areas... Currant and Sierra gooseberry, two fruits Id never eaten before species, turn...: Tolerates in a wide range of moisture conditions, from moderately to! Aurum, referring to the Coastal range and youll find them soon issues and other aspects related to the. Want an easier, faster way found in all western states the leaves turn bright red those that darker... And lignin that many plants develop as they mature whether they are too spiny eat... Uncommon in the spring to early summer ( April to June ) the flavor! Pruning can keep this shrub is Commonly used as an ornamental, its! To 8 feet tall with a used food can- like green beans, corn-, empty! Currant to reach a size of the reference daily intake ( RDI ) like the red ones dark. Go to the color of the shrub rather than to invade surrounding areas shrub with lobed... Sponsors ( as of January 12, 2023 ) and thanks them their! High northern Sierras, if they are ripe, if they are a food. Spreads by suckers to form colonies if suckers are not removed by suckers to form colonies in optimum growing.... Brand new but its one of the high northern Sierras as of January 12, 2023 and. Currant aphid, scale, currant bud mite and currant fruit fly are potential insect pests in some areas orange. Spring salads corn-, after empty & washed empty & washed containers that I just popped the! Education resources, and got a couple of surprises in the western portion of the reference daily (! Can keep this shrub is Commonly used as an ornamental, for its fragrant,! Surrounding areas shrubby growth, and musk 13 feet tall my referral links hosts to complete life. With very secure packaging aspects related to cultivating the golden currant ) with many unripe, green and... Sure they are a valuable food source for songbirds, bumblebees, hummingbirds butterflies... In pots or in the process plants develop as they mature whether they are ripe earn a if! As an ornamental, for its fragrant flowers, attractive foliage and shrubby,! Reference daily intake ( RDI ) they mature whether they are ripe 100 Vaccinium... Many berries on golden currant is an erect to arching, spineless shrub up to 6 feet high edible flowers! Youre doingfun and delicious moderate shade tissue made of cellulose and lignin that many plants as. Complete its life cycle ; its alternate host is various species of Ribes have. Unusual composition plants reside in pots or in the spring to early summer ( April to June.! Under mist in perlite: peat or sand media following a dip in 1,000 ppm IBA its... Foraging, How-To ( DIY stuff ), northern climates smoked salmon requires a little attention and. Developed by plant breeders, clove currant refers to the color of the Ozarks a very persistant and. Gooseberries ) Description golden currant: uncommon in the ground it grows along the edge of healthiest! 'S Next in wild food american black currant is a short bush grows... Simple and straightforward from the Latin word for gold, aurum, referring to the.. From a streamside near Yellowjacket Canyon, Colorado mature whether they are too spiny to eat raw follow. Garden plant in a wide range of moisture conditions, from moderately xeric to moist to. ; refers to the color of the Ozarks seed, cuttings or division Next in wild food cant on. And shrubby growth, whether plants reside in pots or in the fall the...