Golden Currant

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Biston betularia (Peppered Moth), Pyrrharctia isabella (Isabella Tiger Moth), Xanthotype sospeta (Crocus Geometer)
S14 Nearctic species with ON/QC range; 14 total species recorded, 3 confirmed in eastern Canada
🐝 Specialist Bee Host: LLM: from Fowler matching lines
❄️ Winter Food Source: Berries ripen in summer but persist into fall and early winter. Consumed by American Robin, Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Mountain Bluebird, Pine Grosbeak, and grouse species [S57, S10]. Small mammals including Red Fox, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, Eastern Chipmunk, and mice cache seeds that may persist through winter.
S57 12 bird species; S10 mammals cache berries; S11 Fruit/Seed Persistence=Yes

Proximity Score: 4
Native Status: ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ❌ ON
Closest Direction: W
CEC Eco-Regions: 9 – Great Plains, 9.3 – West Central Semi-Arid Prairies, 9.3.4 – Nebraska Sand Hills
Rarity Notes: Ranked SNA (Not Applicable) in both Ontario and Quebec, reflecting its introduced status in these provinces. Globally secure at G5. Not listed under SARA. Native range is western North America from Saskatchewan to California. National rank in Canada is N3, reflecting limited native range in AB and SK.
S22 SNA ON/QC, G5 global, N3 Canada; S26 not SARA listed; S29 native range
Rarity Ranks: QC SNA – Not Applicable, ON SNA – Not Applicable
Migration: Disjunct
Ecological Context: Golden currant is native to the Great Plains and western North America, typically found by streams, in ravines, on rocky slopes, and sandy bluffs. In its native range it occupies moist to dry hillsides and river valleys. Populations east of the Mississippi are considered introduced. In the Gatineau-Ottawa region, it occurs as a naturalized escape from cultivation in disturbed sites, roadsides, and forest edges [S10, S61]. VASCAN lists it as introduced in both ON and QC.
S29 habitats; S4 native habitat; S61 introduced east of Mississippi; S10 disturbed sites; S1 introduced status

Roles: Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor, Shelterbelter, Wildlife Habitat
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = Medium (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S10 keyword match: spines? (supporting signal only); S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S72 Hemenway (tables: 10-1, appendix_a, pp. 149, 186); S64 NPPBI 'beneficial insects' flag] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)] | Shelterbelter: S72 Hemenway (tables: 10-1, appendix_a, pp. 149, 186)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 10-1, appendix_a, pp. 149, 186)]
Notes: Hemenway lists golden currant as a shrub-layer component suitable for insectary plantings, hedgerows, and wildlife habitat. Its early bloom provides critical spring nectar for pollinators before most other food sources are available. Dense multi-stemmed habit offers nesting and cover for birds. Rhizomatous spread can form living barriers when planted in hedgerows. Tolerates a wide pH range (6.0-8.0) and diverse soil types, making it versatile in mixed plantings.
S72 guild roles; S64 early nectar; S29 wildlife cover; S11 adaptability

Category: Dermatological Aid, Orthopedic Aid, Snake Bite Remedy
S28 Paiute/Shoshoni/Kiowa uses
Notes: Paiute and Shoshoni used a decoction of the inner bark for leg swellings (Orthopedic Aid). The dried and pulverized inner bark was sprinkled on sores by the Paiute (Dermatological Aid) [S28, S29]. Kiowa applied a poultice of plant parts to snakebites. Shoshoni also applied a poultice of the second bark medicinally. PFAF rates medicinal use at 1 of 5, reflecting limited but documented traditional applications.
S28 5 medicinal uses; S29 medicinal rating 1/5

✅ Edible ✅ Commonly Eaten

Foraging Notes: Berries eaten fresh or cooked by numerous Indigenous peoples including Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Paiute, Lakota, Kiowa, and Comanche. Fruit used in jellies, sauces, and pies; also dried and formed into cakes for winter use [S28, S29]. Berries are approximately 5 mm diameter, relatively large and flavourful. Flowers also edible raw with a very sweet flavour. The berries have been described as very seedy but with an edible fleshy interior.
S28 24 food uses; S29 edibility 4/5; S10 berry description