Wild Black Currant (Ribes americanum)
The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of native bees including the specialist bee Andrena nivalis (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is the host plant for the Gray Comma, Green Comma, the threatened Hoary Comma, (mnfi.anr.msu.edu), and 11 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (illinoiswildflower.info). Both birds and mammals (including humans) eat the berries, which are high in vitamins and antioxidants. Berry-consuming birds include the Northern Catbird, Brown Thrasher, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Bluebird (illinoiswildflower.info). The Xerces Society recommends this plant as a native flowering hedgerow because of its high value to pollinators (Xerces.org).
American black currant is considered a low risk for serving as a host for the white pine blister rust (nrcs.usda.gov)
Photo Credit: Pete Beard
The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of native bees including the specialist bee Andrena nivalis (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is the host plant for the Gray Comma, Green Comma, the threatened Hoary Comma, (mnfi.anr.msu.edu), and 11 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (illinoiswildflower.info). Both birds and mammals (including humans) eat the berries, which are high in vitamins and antioxidants. Berry-consuming birds include the Northern Catbird, Brown Thrasher, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Bluebird (illinoiswildflower.info). The Xerces Society recommends this plant as a native flowering hedgerow because of its high value to pollinators (Xerces.org).
American black currant is considered a low risk for serving as a host for the white pine blister rust (nrcs.usda.gov)
Photo Credit: Pete Beard
The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of native bees including the specialist bee Andrena nivalis (Johnson and Colla, 2023). It is the host plant for the Gray Comma, Green Comma, the threatened Hoary Comma, (mnfi.anr.msu.edu), and 11 other species of butterflies and moths in our area (illinoiswildflower.info). Both birds and mammals (including humans) eat the berries, which are high in vitamins and antioxidants. Berry-consuming birds include the Northern Catbird, Brown Thrasher, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Bluebird (illinoiswildflower.info). The Xerces Society recommends this plant as a native flowering hedgerow because of its high value to pollinators (Xerces.org).
American black currant is considered a low risk for serving as a host for the white pine blister rust (nrcs.usda.gov)
Photo Credit: Pete Beard
Life Cycle: Perennial
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial (Seems to prefer partial)
Soil Moisture: Medium-wet, Medium
Height: 3-5 feet
Plant Spacing: 3-5 feet
Bloom Time: April - June
Bloom Color: White
Advantages: Bird Favorite, Pollinator Favorite
Host Plant: Gray Comma, Green Comma, and 11 species of butterflies and moths use this as a caterpillar host plant in our area (illinoiswildflower.info)
Specialist Bee: Andrena nivalis (Johnson and Colla, 2023)
Beneficial for Endangered or Threatened Species: Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis) (mnfi.anr.msu.edu)
Resource: Johnson, Lorraine, and Sheila Colla. A Northern Gardener’s Guide to Native Plants and Pollinators: Creating Habitat in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and Upper Midwest. Island Press, 2023
