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Ribes odoratum - H.L.Wendl.

Common Name Buffalo Currant
Family Grossulariaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Rocky bluffs and slopes, also along the sides of streams[235].
Range Central N. America - Saskatchewan and Minnesota, west to the Rockies and south to Texas.
Edibility Rating    (4 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 odoratum Buffalo Currant


Ribes odoratum Buffalo Currant

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Ribes odoratum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2.5 m (8ft) by 2.5 m (8ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from July to August. 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. aureum villosum. DC. R. aureum. non Pursh. R. fragrans. non Pall. R. longiflorum.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Fruit - raw or cooked[2, 62, 85, 257]. The quality varies from plant to plant, the best forms are sweet and make very pleasant eating[K]. The fruit ripens from late July and can hang on the bush until early autumn[K]. The fruit can also be dried for winter use[183]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter, though it is larger in some selected cultivars[200]. Flowers - raw. A sweet taste[85]. The leaves can be used to make a tea or as a flavouring in foods[183].

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.
Antidote

a poultice of the plant has been applied to snakebites[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Food Forest  Scented Plants

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]. Prefers full sun but it is quite tolerant of shade though it does not fruit so well in such a position[11]. Hardy to about -25°c[184]. A very ornamental plant[1]. The flowers are deliciously clove-scented[245]. This species is closely allied to R. aureum[11, 200]. Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[183]. The period of fruit ripening is unusually long[183]. The cultivar 'Crandall' has large edible fruits with a tart-sweet flavour that are high in pectin[200]. This species succeeds in regions having hot summers[183]. The fruits can be red, black, yellow, golden or reddish-brown[164]. Plants often produce suckers, especially when growing in damp soils. Plants can harbour a stage of white pine blister rust, so should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[155]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200]. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) 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 a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [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, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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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 between 0 and 5°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]. Division of suckers in the dormant season. They can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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 :

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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.

 

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Author

H.L.Wendl.

Botanical References

1143200

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Subject : Ribes odoratum  
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