Flowering currants (Ribes sanguineum) are native to western United States and Canada. It and its varieties and cultivars are popular garden shrubs, valued for their brightly colored flowers in early spring. They also provide early spring nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies, forage for the larvae of more than two dozen species of moths and butterflies, and nesting sites or cover for songbirds and small mammals. The Smith Mossman garden has 10 different Ribes cultivars with flowers that range from white to dark red. This native shrub is happy in sun or shade and brightens up the woodland.
