-
Leaves -
Flower close-up -
Berries close-up -
Berries of R. aureum var. aureum -
Berries of R. aureum var. villosum
| Golden currant | |
|---|---|
| |
| R. aureum var. aureum, Spring Mountains, Nevada. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Saxifragales |
| Family: | Grossulariaceae |
| Genus: | Ribes |
| Subgenus: | Ribes subg. Ribes |
| Section: | Ribes sect. Symphocalyx |
| Species: | R. aureum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ribes aureum Pursh 1813
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
List
| |
Ribes aureum, known by the common names golden currant,[2] clove currant, pruterberry and buffalo currant, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ribes native to North America.[3]
The plant is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub, 2–3 metres (6+1⁄2–10 feet) tall. The leaves are green, semi-leathery,[4] with 3 or 5 lobes, and turn red in autumn.[5]
The plant blooms in spring with racemes of conspicuous golden yellow flowers, often with a pronounced, spicy fragrance similar to that of cloves or vanilla. Flowers may also be shades of cream to reddish, and are borne in clusters of up to 15.[6] The shrub produces berries about 1 centimetre (3⁄8 inch) in diameter from an early age. The ripe fruits are amber yellow to black.[6] Those of variety villosum are black.[7]
.jpg)
The species belongs to the subgenus Ribes, which contains other currants such as the blackcurrant (R. nigrum) and redcurrant (R. rubrum), and is the sole member of the section Symphocalyx.[8]
Ribes aureum is native to Canada and the central United States West of the Mississippi River, but has escaped cultivation and naturalized in the Eastern United States.[12][11]
It can be found around gravel banks and plains around flowing water.[4]
Pollinators of the plant include hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. The fruit is eaten by various birds and mammals.[13]
This currant species is susceptible to white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), a fungus which attacks and kills pines, so it is sometimes eradicated from forested areas where the fungus is active to prevent its spread.[6][14]
R. aureum is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, in traditional, native plant, drought tolerant, and wildlife gardens, and natural landscaping projects.[15] Unlike some other species of currants, Ribes aureum is in the remarkably drought-tolerant group of Ribes. Named cultivars have been introduced also.
Although the flowers are hermaphroditic, the yield is greatly benefited by cross-pollination.
The fruits are edible raw, but are very tart or bitter.[16] They are usually cooked with sugar and can be made into jelly.[4] The flowers are also edible.[6][5]
The berries were used for food, and other plant parts for medicine, by various Native American groups across its range in North America.[6][17]
