Bloomipedia
Golden currant (Ribes aureum)
Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Golden currant

Ribes aureum

Golden currant (Ribes aureum) is a shrub in the Grossulariaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly February–May across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Golden currant is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in February–May.

34states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
14,450U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah

Quick look

Ribes aureum, known by the common names golden currant, clove currant, pruterberry and buffalo currant, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ribes native to North America.

  • It belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 34 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
  • In Idaho, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–June. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 10 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 3,152 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #44 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,699 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #5 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,171 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #43 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,382 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeApril–June3,152
IdahoNativeMarch–June1,699
UtahNativeApril–May1,171
MontanaNativefew records (27)499
South DakotaNativefew records (20)202
North DakotaNativefew records (5)79

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records golden currant in 34 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Huerfano, Jefferson, Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Saguache, Sedgwick, Teller, Weld, Yuma.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Idaho, Jefferson, Jerome, Latah, Lincoln, Madison, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Twin Falls.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Golden currant a medium shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Medium
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium
Soil pH range
6.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
150
Annual precipitation range
12 to 20 inches
Minimum root depth
20 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
High
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Red · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for RIAU. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 578 counties across 31 states; the most are in Kansas (83), Colorado (35), Idaho (32).

Other Ribes on Bloomipedia (5): Red-flowering currant, Wax currant, Missouri gooseberry, Mountain gooseberry, Stink currant.

More Colorado flowers

Wax currant (Ribes cereum)

Wax currant

Ribes cereum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: April–June
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–October
Blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)

Blue columbine

Aquilegia coerulea

★ CO state flowerNative

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August

Sources