Red-flowering Currant

Red-flowering currant is a native deciduous shrub of Western Washington's dry to moist woodlands and forest edges, a multi-stemmed species with brilliant red flowers in early spring and blue-black berries in early summer. The leaves are maple-like, with 3-5 lobes, coarsely toothed, and aromatic when crushed. The flowers are tubular to urn-shaped, about half an inch long, and appear in drooping clusters (racemes) containing 10-30 individual flowers. The plant reaches 8-12 feet and forms a naturally spreading, multi-stemmed shrub with arching branches.

In Western Washington, red-flowering currant is an excellent native shrub for dry to moist sites with full sun to part shade. The plant grows at a moderate rate and reaches productive size in 8-12 years. The plant is very hardy and tolerant of diverse soil conditions and degrees of moisture, making it adaptable to various landscape settings. Few pests or diseases seriously affect this shrub; occasionally, powdery mildew appears on foliage in dry summers, but it rarely damages the plant. The bright red spring flowers appear in March-April and are an important early nectar source for native pollinators and hummingbirds. The blue-black berries ripen in May-June and are eaten by birds. For naturalized plantings, wildlife habitat, and spring-flowering interest, red-flowering currant is excellent; the combination of red flowers, adaptability, and ecological value make it a practical choice. The multi-stemmed form and moderate growth habit suit it to mixed shrub-tree plantings and screens.