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Ribes americanum - Mill.

Common Name American Blackcurrant
Family Grossulariaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rich thickets and slopes[43].
Range Eastern N. America - Saskatchewan to New Brunswick, south to Maryland and West Virginia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Ribes americanum American Blackcurrant


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Ribes americanum American Blackcurrant
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Ribes americanum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 2. It is in flower from April to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

R. floridum.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 61, 85, 101, 257]. They are used in jellies, jams, pies and preserves, and can be dried for later use[183, 257]. Comments on the flavour of these blackcurrants vary considerably, with one report saying they are esteemed as an article of diet[257], another that they have a fair flavour[2], another that they are watery and insipid[2] and others that they have a distinct musky flavour and are only palatable when cooked[159, 183]. The fruit is up to 10mm in diameter[235].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Anthelmintic  Antiinflammatory  Kidney  Vermifuge  Women's complaints

A decoction of the roots has been used to treat kidney problems[213, 257] and also to expel worms[222]. It has been used by women to treat uterine problems[257]. The root bark is anthelmintic[257]. The poulticed root bark has been applied to swellings[222, 257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[11, 200]. Quite tolerant of shade though not fruiting so well in such a position[11]. Hardy to about -20°c[200]. Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[155].Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2]. The root pattern is flat with shallow roots forming a plate near the soil surface [1-2]. The root pattern is suckering with new plants from underground runners away from the plant [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at -2 to +2°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[113, 164]. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[78, 113]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[78, 200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, United States, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado (east), Montana, Wyoming (east), Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Mexico,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Embelia ribesFalse black pepper, White-flowered EmbeliaClimber15.0 10-12 FLMHSM342
Rheum ribes Perennial1.5 5-9  MHSNDM20 
Ribes aciculare Shrub1.0 3-7  LMHSNM30 
Ribes alpinumAlpine CurrantShrub1.2 2-7 MLMHSNM304
Ribes altissimum Shrub3.0 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Ribes ambiguum Shrub0.6 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Ribes aureumGolden CurrantShrub2.4 3-8  LMHSNDM410
Ribes bracteosumStink CurrantShrub2.5 6-9  LMHNM21 
Ribes burejenseBureja gooseberry,Shrub1.0 4-8  LMHSNM400
Ribes californicumHillside GooseberryShrub0.0 6-9  LMHNM20 
Ribes cereumWax CurrantShrub1.8 4-8  LMHNDM21 
Ribes curvatumGranite gooseberryShrub1.0 6-9  LMHSNM30 
Ribes cynosbatiDogberry, Eastern prickly gooseberryShrub1.5 0-0  LMHSNM310
Ribes diacanthumSiberian currantShrub1.8 0-0  LMHSNM20 
Ribes distans Shrub0.6 4-8  LMHSNM20 
Ribes divaricatumCoastal Black Gooseberry, Spreading gooseberry, Parish's gooseberry, Straggly gooseberryShrub2.7 4-8  LMHSNM412
Ribes fasciculatum Shrub1.5 4-8  LMHSNM10 
Ribes fragrans Shrub0.6 3-7  LMHSNM30 
Ribes gayanum Shrub1.5 7-10  LMHSNM30 
Ribes glaciale Shrub3.0 -  LMHSNM20 
Ribes glandulosumSkunk CurrantShrub0.4 -  LMHSNM213
Ribes griffithii Shrub2.5 -  LMHSNM20 
Ribes himalense Shrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM31 
Ribes hirtellumCurrant-Gooseberry, Hairystem gooseberryShrub1.0 4-8  LMHNM300
Ribes horridum Shrub1.5 -  LMHSNM30 
Ribes hudsonianumHudson Bay Currant, Northern black currant, Western black currantShrub1.0 0-0  LMHSNM21 
Ribes inebriansWhisky CurrantShrub2.0 4-8  LMHSNM21 
Ribes inermeWhitestem Gooseberry, Klamath gooseberryShrub2.0 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Ribes irriguumIdaho GooseberryShrub3.0 -  LMHSNM21 
123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Mill.

Botanical References

1143200

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