How much sun does Swamp Red Currant need?

Swamp Red Currant grows best in part shade conditions.

When does Swamp Red Currant bloom?

Swamp Red Currant blooms in May and June.

Where is Swamp Red Currant native?

Swamp Red Currant (Ribes triste) is native to CT, ID, IL, MA and 18 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Is Swamp Red Currant toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Swamp Red Currant as toxic to livestock.

What pollinators does Swamp Red Currant attract?

Swamp Red Currant draws bees and flies.

Is Swamp Red Currant HOA-friendly?

Swamp Red Currant takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Swamp Red Currant

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Ribes triste

Last reviewed: October 2026

Toxicity unknown

Swamp Red Currant (Ribes triste) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Swamp Red Currant as toxic to livestock.

Light

part shade

Water

high

Size

24"–48" H × 24"–48" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

CT, ID, IL, MA and 18 more states

Pollinators

bees, flies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

Find rebates in your area

Picture natives in your own yard

Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Swamp Red Currant.

Try it with your yard

Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northern Glaciated Plains Great Plains Northern Forests Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Huron/Erie Lake Plains Northeastern Highlands Northern Allegheny Plateau Acadian Plains and Hills Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands

Swamp red currant is a low-growing native shrub that thrives in moist, shady areas. It produces small clusters of red flowers in late spring followed by red berries, making it useful for naturalized areas and rain gardens.

In an HOA neighborhood

Swamp Red Currant takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Requires consistently moist soil which may appear swampy
Informal growth habit looks too wild for most front yards
Name includes 'swamp' which signals maintenance concerns

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and flies in May and June. Birds enjoy the red berries in summer, and the dense growth provides nesting habitat for small songbirds.

Common questions

How much sun does Swamp Red Currant need?: Swamp Red Currant grows best in part shade conditions.
When does Swamp Red Currant bloom?: Swamp Red Currant blooms in May and June.
Where is Swamp Red Currant native?: Swamp Red Currant (Ribes triste) is native to CT, ID, IL, MA and 18 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Swamp Red Currant toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Swamp Red Currant as toxic to livestock.
What pollinators does Swamp Red Currant attract?: Swamp Red Currant draws bees and flies.
Is Swamp Red Currant HOA-friendly?: Swamp Red Currant takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Swamp Red Currant? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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