Grossulariaceae

Ribes sanguineum

Red-Flowering Currant

Erect to spreading shrub, without spines on stems. Leaves nearly round, 1–3 in. across, palmately divided, 3–5 shallow lobes irregularly toothed, upper side slightly hairy, underside sparsely hairy to covered with white hair. Flowers in terminal cluster, 10–20 usually bright blood red, sometimes pink or white. Berries blue-black, tasteless. Grows in many habitats in open woods, forests, rocky slopes, near sea level to 7000 ft. Sanguineum, meaning "blood red," refers to the flowers. Plants with white-woolly hairs matted on lower surface of leaf are var. sanguineum. Var. glutinosum, with leaf blade sparsely hairy on lower surface, and with pink to white sepals, grows along southern Oregon and California coastline.

• Rarity: Locally Common
• Flowering Time: Late Spring
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 3--9 feet
• Habitat: West-Side Forest
• Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, Crater Lake Np, Siskiyous, N Cascades Np
• Native: Yes