Golden currant
Ribes aureum
Golden currant (Ribes aureum) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 5–8 ft tall and 5–8 ft wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to part. Fragrant yellow flowers in early spring; edible currants in summer; red fall color. Triple-duty native.
Colorado nativelow to medium water5–8 ft tall and 5–8 ft wideXeric / water-wise
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Ribes aureum
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 5–8 ft tall and 5–8 ft wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- full sun to part
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom time
- early spring, mid spring
- Pollinator value
- high
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first summer. Tolerates clay and a wide pH range — easy native.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Golden currant good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Golden currant is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Golden currant get?
- It matures to about 5–8 ft tall and 5–8 ft wide.
- How much water does Golden currant need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Golden currant native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
