Skip to content
← Plant Database
golden currant

golden currant

Ribes aureum

shrub☀️ full sun💧 low waterZone 2aZone 8b

A deciduous shrub prized for its fragrant golden-yellow flowers in spring and ornamental dark berries. It's drought-tolerant once established and makes an attractive addition to native plant gardens.

Overview

Form
Upright
Growth Rate
moderate
Size
4–3′ tall × 4–8′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

moderate

Flood Tolerance

low
Zone 2aZone 8b
1471013
ColderWarmer
Zone range: Zone 2a to Zone 8b

pH Range

4.77.8
7.0
3.556.589
pH range: 4.7 to 7.8

Soil Texture

Coarse, Medium, Fine

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

Shrub

Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native to the United States

Native Range

Western North America

Native to: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Function & Care

ediblehedgerowpollinator nectarywildlife benefit

Edible Parts

fruit

Establishment & Care

Establishment
easy
Maintenance
low
Years to Bearing
2 years
Propagation
seed, cutting, layering

Notable Cultivars

The species type is most commonly grown and valued for its fragrant flowers and fruit production; no major named cultivars are widely recognized in horticulture.