Truly one of my favorite native shrubs! Ribes sanguineum, or red flowering currant, is a small to medium sized shrub in the currant family. It occurs in a range of habitats, from coastal scrub to oak woodlands and savannas. I've seen it thrive along the California coast in buffeting winds as well as formal gardens. 

The dark green leaves are alternate and rounded and stems are covered in an abundance of hanging clusters of bright pink to red flowers in spring. The berries (or currants) are dark purple and set on in late summer or fall. They are not particularly delicious, but they are a great food resource for birds and mammals.

Red flowering currant takes well to a hard prune and can be trained into a hedge or tree form. It is fast growing and easy to propagate from cuttings. It needs full sun to look its fullest, but it is not picky about soil type. It is somewhat drought tolerant and will drop its leaves if the weather becomes too hot and dry. It is much loved by native insects and hummingbirds.

Water Use: Light to Medium

Light Requirement: Sun

Soil Moisture: Damp

Soil type: Sand, clay, loam

Soil pH: 6-8

Drought Tolerance: Moderate

Deciduous perennial