American Currant RPBB - Ribes americanum

American Currant provides food and habitat for wildlife and people, with no prickles. It blooms for about 3 weeks with flowers along the central stalk that give way to fleshy berries. The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract bumblebees and other insects, as well as Thrashers, Robins, Catbirds and others. Favored plant of the federally endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, it is also a host plant for caterpillars of Polygonia butterflies (Green and Gray Commas), of Dysstroma hersiliata (Orange-Barred Carpet) and of other moths. Both birds and mammals help to distribute seeds. Soil Type: Loamy / Sand Soil Conditions: Moist-Average Flower Color: Yellow Flower Time: May-June Height: 2' - 4' Light: Part-Sun Features: Rain Garden, Birds, Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, Pollinators, Larval Host Credits: Info & Photo 1 courtesy of illinoiswildflowers.info; Photo courtesy of Julia Bunn