Part of the Summer collection
Hardy Berries and Currants: Summer Field Notes
Field note · June 2025
seems these leaves aren't abaxially pubescent
seems these leaves aren't abaxially pubescent.. (fuzzy/hairy under the leaves), and when you crush them they aren't skunky.. there's a few indicators that it's Ribes americanum. but the flowers is more like the other one. a hybrid? takes a bit to grow out specimens and get a confident ID. what I'm interested in here is the difference between american wild currant and northern black currant. oddly these ones have astringent fruit (more like R. hudsonianum), and my other source for R. americanum have awesome tasting fruit (reminds me of crandall). I like finding genetic variation in wild populations, it means you can make a good selection and clone it through softwood cuttings.