Golden currant, Buffalo currant, Clove currant

Botanical Name	Ribes aureum
Common Name	Golden currant, Buffalo currant, Clove currant
Family	Grossulariaceae- Currant
Description	This deciduous shrub has mostly 3-lobed leaves that turn red in the fall. The smooth twigs are gray in color. In summer it has red-black berries. The family common name is also known as Gooseberry.
Mature Size	4' - 6'
Bloom	In April, very showy, trumpet-shaped flowers appear. Each flower has 5 outer golden-yellow petals and dark pink central petals. They hang in clusters and have a spicy fragrance, similar to cloves.
Interesting Facts	The Kiowa Indians believed that snakes were afraid of the currant bush and used it as a snakebite remedy.
Traditional and Medicinal Uses	The flowers are sometimes eaten raw. The berries can be made into jams, jellies and pies. They are very high in Vitamin C. Indian tribes used them in pemmican along with dried buffalo meat. The berries are eaten by several wildlife species and birds, especially hummingbirds. Some tribes used the berries to color clay pots.