When does Ribes cereum flower?

Ribes cereum blooms in May and June, producing clusters of small tubular pink to cream flowers along its branches.

What kind of light and water does Ribes cereum need?

This shrub grows best in full sun to partial shade and prefers low water once established, making it well suited to dry, well drained slopes.

What pollinators visit Ribes cereum flowers?

The flowers are visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which feed on the nectar produced during the spring bloom.

Does Ribes cereum lose its leaves in winter?

Yes, Ribes cereum is deciduous and drops its leaves in fall, regrowing them each spring before flowering.

What growing conditions suit Ribes cereum best?

It does well in rocky, well drained soils with low fertility and can handle hot, dry summers typical of foothill and montane shrubland habitats.

Is Wax Currant toxic to livestock?

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

Is Wax Currant HOA-friendly?

Wax Currant is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Wax Currant

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Ribes cereum

Last reviewed: September 2026

Ribes cereum is a compact, drought tolerant shrub that blooms in May and June with small tubular pink to cream flowers. It favors dry, rocky slopes and open woodlands at mid to high elevations in full sun.

Toxicity unknown

Wax Currant (Ribes cereum) 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 Wax Currant as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–36" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 11 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Southern Rockies Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Chihuahuan Deserts High Plains Southwestern Tablelands Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Southern California/Northern Baja Coast

Squaw currant is a compact native shrub that produces small pink to white tubular flowers in late spring. This drought-tolerant plant forms a neat, rounded shape and requires minimal care once established. The berries that follow the flowers are edible and add seasonal interest.

Growing Wax Currant

Grow Wax Currant in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Wax Currant is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Bare branches in winter may look sparse

Wildlife value

The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies during the May-June bloom period. Birds and small mammals enjoy the small red berries that ripen in summer.

Common questions

When does Ribes cereum flower?: Ribes cereum blooms in May and June, producing clusters of small tubular pink to cream flowers along its branches.
What kind of light and water does Ribes cereum need?: This shrub grows best in full sun to partial shade and prefers low water once established, making it well suited to dry, well drained slopes.
What pollinators visit Ribes cereum flowers?: The flowers are visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which feed on the nectar produced during the spring bloom.
Does Ribes cereum lose its leaves in winter?: Yes, Ribes cereum is deciduous and drops its leaves in fall, regrowing them each spring before flowering.
What growing conditions suit Ribes cereum best?: It does well in rocky, well drained soils with low fertility and can handle hot, dry summers typical of foothill and montane shrubland habitats.
Is Wax Currant toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Wax Currant as toxic to livestock.
Is Wax Currant HOA-friendly?: Wax Currant is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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.

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