Common Caragana vs American Black Currant - TreeTime.ca

Common Caragana vs American Black Currant

Ribes americanum

Caragana arborescens

CUSTOM GROW

American Black Currant
Common Caragana

American Black Currant is a native deciduous shrub known for its clusters of small black berries that ripen in mid-to-late summer. The berries are edible and have long been used for fresh eating, preserves, and baking. They provide food for birds and mammals, and their fragrant spring flowers attract bees and other pollinators.

American Black Currant’s foliage serves as a host plant for butterfly species such as the Green Comma and Gray Comma, and its dense branching offers cover for wildlife. The shrub has traditionally been planted in shelterbelts, riparian buffers, and restoration projects.

Common Caragana is a fast growing shrub that's known for its exceptional hardiness and drought tolerance. Although it's most commonly planted in shelterbelts, Common Caragana is also an excellent hedge or feature shrub.

Note: in warmer areas, this species can be difficult to contain once planted. Use the right plant in the right place.

American Black Currant Quick Facts

Common Caragana Quick Facts

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Zone: 2a
Zone: 1b
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 1.5 m (5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to spreading, thicket-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium
Suckering: none
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: gold to red
Flowers: small, yellowish bell-shaped, in clusters
Flowers: yellow, in spring
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Fruit: pod like fruits
Berries: black, edible
Flavor: tart, variable
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB
Other Names: eastern black currant, wild black currant
Other Names: black karagana, caragana, pea tree, siberian pea shrub, yellow acacia