Wax currant
Ribes cereum
Wax currant (Ribes cereum) is a Colorado-native shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 3–5 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers part. Pink-white tube flowers attract hummingbirds; red waxy fruits sparse, bird food only.
Colorado nativelow water3–5 ft tall and 3–4 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Ribes cereum
- Variety / cultivar
- (species)
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 3–5 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- part
- Colorado native
- Yes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- loam, sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- low
- Pollinator value
- high
- Good for
- slope, under conifer
Planting & establishment
Drought-tolerant CO native; tolerates dry shade under pines.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Wax currant good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Wax currant is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a shrub suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Wax currant get?
- It matures to about 3–5 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide.
- How much water does Wax currant need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Wax currant native to Colorado?
- Yes — it is a Colorado native.
