Ribes aureum var. gracillimum
From California Natives Wiki
Species Name: Ribes aureum var. gracillimum
Common Name: Golden Currant
- Showy in bloom. Native to the L.A. Basin. Superior for bird habitat. Tolerates clay soil and drought. Forage source for Cooper and Anglewing butterflies. Berries are edible.
- Plant Family: Grossulariaceae
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height by Width: 6' H x 2-3' W
- Growth Habit: Upright, arching branches
- Deciduous/Evergreen: Summer deciduous
- Growth Rate: Fast
- Sun Exposure: Sun to part sun
- Soil Preference: Adaptable
- Water Requirements: Drought-tolerant to moderate
- Cold Hardy to: 15 degrees F
- Flower Season: Winter/Spring
- Flower Color: Yellow
- Endangered?: Not Listed
- Distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, San Francisco Bay, South Coast Ranges, Southwest
- Natural Habitat: Alluvial areas, forest edges below 9000'
- Care and Maintenance
- History
- Introduced into cultivation in California by Theodore Payne.
- From California Native Plants, Theodore Payne's 1941 catalog: "Graceful arching branches covered with a perfect shower of deep yellow flowers from mid-winter to early spring, followed by quantities of fruit which makes excellent jelly. Sends up new shoots from the roots soon making quite a large clump. Prefers an open sunny location. Gallon cans, 50c; 5 gallon cans, $1.75."
- Other Names
- References
- Bornstein, Carol, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien. California Native Plants for the Garden. Los Olivos, CA: Cachuma Press. 2005.
- Links
