Ribes aureum var. aureum

Golden currant

Family: Grossulariaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Golden currant is a native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, California Ranges, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley, and Great Basin in many habitats at elevations of 125 to 1,880 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces yellow flowers that age to orange, with a spicy fragrance and petals nestled in a distinctive hypanthium. Growing to a moderate size with branching stems, it forms a dense, multi-stemmed shrub. Its leaves vary across the plant, typically featuring lobed or rounded shapes that provide textural interest to the landscape. The flowers, with their unique spicy scent and color transition from bright yellow to warm orange, make this currant a charming addition to its native habitats.

Habitat: Many habitats

Bloom period: Apr-May

Elevation: 125-1880 m

Bioregions: KR, CaR, SNH, SnJV, GB

California counties: Inyo, Lassen, Mono, Fresno, Siskiyou, Shasta, Stanislaus, Plumas, Modoc, Sierra, Placer, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.