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Squirrels, Birds, Butterflies, Butterfly Larvae, Bees, Other Showy Insects
No
Conservation Status
No
Interesting Tidbits
Habitat Information: Habitat for this plant is swamps, sedge meadows, fens, seeps, partially shaded stream borders, low moist ravines and rocky canyons, and open woods. This woody plant is usually found in less disturbed habitats that receive partial shade. (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service)
An identifying characteristic of this species is that it is the the only black currant that has slightly hairy branches without prickles. It has smooth shiny blue black berries without bristles. Its leaves have many resin dots apparent on the undersides. Currants and gooseberries can be told apart easily, as currants have a long drooping cluster of flowers (and then berries) while Gooseberries have several short stalks with 1 to 3 flowers (then berries) along the stems at the base of leaves. (Evergreen)
Present throughout southern Ontario and Canadian Shield; widely scattered in the western parts and eastern parts of Northern Ontario north to 50 degrees north, bordering the Boreal and Barren Regions only in the Moose River drainage basin. (Soper & Heimburger, 1994)
It grows north across the prairies and into parkland prairie habitat. This plant's seed is readily distributed by birds and other animals foraging on it. (Illinois Wildflowers)
Insect Relationships: Honeybees, bumblebees, halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp.), and an oligolectic bee, (Andrena nivalis). Ribes spp attract many insect feeders including butterfly caterpillars Polygonia faunas (green comma) and Polygonia progne (gray comma), moth caterpillars Dysstroma hersiliata (orange barred carpet) and other moths, aphids Cryptomyzus ribis (currant aphid) and Nasonovia ribisnigri (lettuce Aphid), and other bugs Poecilocapsus lineatus (four lined plant bug) and Taedia colon (plant bug sp.), Agrilus aurichalceus (bronze cane borer) and Psenocerus supernotatus (currant tip borer), Altica ribis and Tricholochmaea ribicola, sawflies Nematus ribesii (imported currantworm) and Janus integer (currant stem girdler), and the larvae of Euphantra canadensis (currant fruit fly) and Cecidophyopsis psilaspis (currant bud mite) creates galls on buds. (Illinois Wildflowers)
Garden Uses: This plant is great for wildlife gardens in open but shaded gardens, as a thicket for escape, food and perches for birds. (Evergreen). Not for a small garden.
Not recommended (sometimes); carries disease which kills white pine. Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.
Traditonal Edible, Medicinal Uses: Fruit edible raw and cooked, used in jellies, jams, pies and preserves, and dried. Variability in the taste with some having good flavour, others watery, or musky taste and need cooking.
Aboriginal peoples used the roots to treat kidney problems, expel worms, and for uterine problems. Root bark is anthelmintic. Poultice was used for swelling. (Plants for a Future)
Sensory Aspect: Rancid-smelling plant
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