This shrub is one of the earliest bloomers in the Spring. The berries are edible, though not often consumed by humans.
Ribes sanguineum
Red-Flowering Currant
Description:
Erect to spreading shrub, without spines on stems.
Leaves nearly round, 1–3 in. across, palmately divided, 3–5 shallow lobes irregularly toothed, upper side slightly hairy, underside sparsely hairy to covered with white hair.
Flowers in terminal cluster, 10–20 usually bright blood red, sometimes pink or white. Berries blue-black, tasteless.
Grows in many habitats in open woods, forests, rocky slopes, near sea level to 7000 ft.
Sanguineum, meaning "blood red," refers to the flowers. Plants with white-woolly hairs matted on lower surface of leaf are var. sanguineum.
Rarity: Locally Common
Flowering Time: Late Spring
Life Cycle: Perennial
Height: 3--9 feet
Habitat: West-Side Forest
Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, Crater Lake Np, Siskiyous, N Cascades Np
Native: Yes
Source: Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest
Additional Resource: OregonFlora Project