Bristly Black Currant vs Water Arum - TreeTime.ca

Bristly Black Currant vs Water Arum

Ribes lacustre

Calla palustris

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Bristly Black Currant
Water Arum

Bristly Black Currant is a native deciduous shrub that grows in moist forests, swamps, and riparian areas. In summer, it produces clusters of dark purple to black berries that provide food for wildlife, while its reddish-purple flowers attract pollinators. The berries are technically edible and enjoyed by some, but many find them unpleasant and bitter.

Thriving in moist soils and shaded locations, Bristly Black Currant helps stabilize soil and supports diverse habitats. It is valuable for conservation plantings, wetland restoration, riparian buffers, and naturalization projects.

Note: When crushed, the berries are known to release an offensive odour.

Water Arum is a native perennial wetland plant known for its showy white oval sheaths (spathe) that surround a yellow-green, cylindrical flower spike (spadix). It has large, oblong, heart-shaped leaves on stems that rise above the water from shallow, spreading rhizomes. The blossoms are followed in late summer by tiny, pear-shaped fruits that ripen to bright red, adding ornamental interest to wet habitats.

Water Arum provides food for birds and small mammals that eat its berries, and its flowers attract pollinators. It can tolerate cold climates and forms colonies in shallow water and saturated soils. It is well-suited for ecological restoration, riparian planting, naturalisation, and habitat projects in wet and shaded environments.

Bristly Black Currant Quick Facts

Water Arum Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1b
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 0.2 m (0.8 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 0.2 m (0.8 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: shade, partial shade
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Growth form: upright to spreading, thicket-forming
Growth form: colony-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, layering - low
Spreading: rhizomes - medium, seeds - low
Maintenance: medium

Toxicity: prickles may cause an allergic reaction

Toxicity: toxic if ingested
Bark: reddish brown with prickles
Flowers: small maroon-green clusters
Flowers: white sheath around and yellow spike
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Bloom time: spring to summer
Berries: dark purple with hairs, edible
Berries: red, in clusters
Flavor: tart, unpleasant
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, PE
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, PE
Other Names: black gooseberry, black swamp gooseberry, bristly black gooseberry, bristly currant, bristly swamp currant, prickly currant
Other Names: bog arum, swamp lily, wild calla, wild dragon