Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) is in the Gooseberry Family family (Grossulariaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,299 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Golden Currant: observations by month (U.S.)
About Golden Currant
Ribes aureum, known by the common names golden currant, clove currant, pruterberry and buffalo currant, is a species in the genus Ribes. It is native to Canada, most of the United States (except the southeast) and northern Mexico. The variety Ribes aureum var. villosum is sometimes considered a full species, Ribes odoratum.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Golden Currant by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 281 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Colorado | 184 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Washington | 147 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Utah | 138 | April | Apr–May |
| Oklahoma | 127 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Nevada | 121 | April | Apr–May |
| Idaho | 76 | April | Mar–Jun |
| Oregon | 44 | April | Apr–May |
| Arizona | 34 | March | Feb–May |
| Montana | 27 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Missouri | 23 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New Mexico | 20 | April | Mar–Apr |
| South Dakota | 20 | June | May–Jun |
| Wyoming | 16 | June | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 9 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Nebraska | 6 | April | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Gooseberry Family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Golden Currant?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to May.
Where is Golden Currant most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Colorado, Washington.