Hudson Bay Currant

Scientific name

Ribes hudsonianum

Description

The Hudson Bay Currant, also known as the Wild Black Currant, is a deciduous shrub that is very similar to the Wild Red Currant, and grows up to about 2m in height. Its leaves are bright green, 2 to 6 cm long, 3 to 5 lobes each, and arranged alternately along the stem. They have a similar shape to maple leaves. The upper surface of the leaves are smooth and green, whereas the undersides of the leaves have yellow resin and sparse to dense hairs. It has showy greenish-purple flowers that are bell-shaped, less than 6mm wide, and have 5 petals that spread out at the end of the bell, and bloom around June. After the flowers, blue to black berries emerge in late summer. These berries are edible, but mostly preferred by birds because they are bitter and unpalatable. Its root systems are moderate for erosion control and the plants are spread through rhizomatic roots. It attracts small mammals and birds that use it for shelter and food.

Planting conditions

Northern Black Currant prefers to grow in normal to moist soil and can tolerate full sun to full shade. It is usually found in swamps, along stream edges, in wet meadows and open woods. This plant is tolerant of a wide range of soil and moisture conditions.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Moist
  • Wet
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
  • Shade
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Clay
• pH:
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
  • Bareroot
• Eco Zone:
  • 1a
  • 1b
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 2m