Ontario Trees & Shrubs website

Wild Black Currant
Ribes americanum

Other common names: American Black Currant

French names: Gadellier d'Amérique

Family: Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae), (Saxifrage Family (Saxifragaceae))

Group: Currants

Distinctive features: Shrub; Yellow-green tubular flowers hanging down in racemes.

Similar species:
  •   Currants - See Currants.

  •   Gooseberries - See Gooseberries.


Flowers: Summer;  Yellow;  5 parts (petals);  Whitish-greenish flowers in a raceme, hanging down. More than 5 flowers in the raceme.

Leaves: Alternate, Simple;  Alternate.

Height: 1-2 m (3-6 ft)

Fruit/Seeds: Black fruit.

Habitat: Fields and Open Areas;  Rich woods, thickets, stream banks.

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 306   

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Common.

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: americanum: American


Photographs: 102 photographs available, of which 5 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Wild Black Currant (Ribes americanum)

A series of racemes of flowers hanging down, along a stem.

Wild Black Currant (Ribes americanum)

One of the flower racemes.

Wild Black Currant (Ribes americanum)

Closeup view of the flowers.

Wild Black Currant (Ribes americanum)

Another view of the flowers, showing size relative to a hand.

Wild Black Currant (Ribes americanum)

Leaf.