A perennial berry bush that favors moist soils and part shade. Berries are commonly used to make jam and pies, and even wine and tea! Easy to grow in areas with sufficient water. Black currants lack the thorns common in their genus, which makes for easy picking. Make sure to plant two or more individuals if you want berries!

Pollination: 2+ individuals needed.

Light: Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade, Shade 

Soil Moisture: Wet Mesic

Soil Type: Adaptable

Height: 3’-6’

Width: 3’-6’

Bloom Color: White, Yellow

Bloom Time: Apr-May

Fruit: Purple/black berries mature July-Aug.

Fall Color: Yellow, Red

Root Type: Branching

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract mainly bees. Hosts the green and gray comma butterflies, moths such as the orange barred carpet moth, borers such as the currant tip borer, and a few smaller insects. Berries are eaten by a wide variety of mammals and birds including thrashers, thrushes, and catbirds. Occasionally browsed by deer.

Notes: Unfortunately uncommon in many areas as they were once persecuted in an attempt to control white pine blister rust, an invasive fungus from China. The general resilience of the Ribes genus to eradication attempts and airborne transmission of the fungus spores made this fairly ineffective, and the federal ban was lifted in 1966 as new fungicides were developed, and white pine timber began to fall out of favor. The long-standing bans, which remain in some (primarily east coast) states, are responsible for currants and gooseberries being largely unknown in the US culinary scene.