Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Wild Black Currant
(American Black currant)
Ribes americanum
[C-value
7]
Gooseberry family (Grossulariaceae)
Blooms April -
May
The native Wild Black Currant is uncommon in our area. It prefers partial sun, consistently moist conditions, and cool to moderate temperatures. Habitats include fens and seeps, partially shaded streambanks and moist ravines. This shrub is 3-5' tall with branching woody stems that are erect, ascending to slightly arching. Its alternate leaves are about 1½-3½" across and palmately-lobed (3 or 5 lobes) and coarsely toothed. Occasionally, short lateral shoots from the stems terminate in drooping flower racemes, each with 5-15 flowers arranged alternately along the central stalk. Individual flowers are about 1/3" long with a pale yellow tubular calyx with 5 spreading lobes that are oblong in shape. Fertile flowers are replaced by fleshy berries 1/3" across, globoid in shape, and shiny. Mature berries are black.
Black Currant at Lyon Forest Preserve fen May 7, 2015
Black Currant at Lyon Forest Preserve fen May 7, 2015
Black Currant at Lyon Forest Preserve fen May 7, 2015
Black Currant with berries at Lyon Forest Preserve fen July 21, 2014
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