Ribes aureum

golden currant

Ribes aureum

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'Golden' currant is larger than the european currants that we grow.  It is vigorous and can grow in a variety of soil types and habitats, up to 9 feet tall.  It has beautiful clusters of yellow and red flowers in spring that small fragrant with a hint of clove.   This shrub produces sweet and juicy, large berries which keep on the bush if the birds don't get them.

You may see them growing wild in eastern Oregon where they like moist washes in the desert sun.  Here in our garden, they produce larger fruit but with less yield than other currants.

Currants are a wonderful small fruited shrub that quickly grows to about 4 feet tall and continues layering and spreading horizontally.  They thrive in sun but also fruit well in partial shade.  They handle soil conditions all the way from heavy clay to sandy loam. We like to plant them in between fruit trees in an orchard or forest garden, as they feed pollinators early in the season, and once the taller trees grow, they are easy to transplant to a new location.

White currants are the sweetest, red the tartest, and black have an excellent unique flavor. It's easy to tell black currants apart from the rest because the wonderful flavor of their fruit is also found in their leaves all season.  Clove currant has beautiful yellow flowers and fruit with an aromatic and sweetly tart flavor.