Sticky Current
Ribes viscosissimum Pursh
Collected on the Lolo Trail between Eldorado Creek to Fish Creek in Idaho Co., Idaho, on 16 Jun 1806. (Source)
Very attractive, erect, non-spiny deciduous shrub growing to heights of 3
to 9 feet. It has red, tubular flowers that bloom early in the spring.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils
and requires acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) well-drained soil. It can grow
in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil and is found
in shaded woods and rocky places in coastal mountains, 1500 - 3000 meters in
Western North America. Riparian Forest F.Slope Thicket Grassland
Value to Animals:
Tobacco bush is a valuable year-round browse species for deer and
elk. However, some authors report that deer and elk will browse tobacco
bush only if better forage is unavailable. Shrub fields in the northern
Rocky Mountains are an important source of browse and habitat for ungulates, and
the presence of tobacco bush may extend their value by
providing forage after other desirable shrubs have grown out of reach.
Tobacco bush is of moderate to high importance for mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goat, mountain sheep, elk, and moose winter browse. Because it is evergreen and seldom grows over 3 feet tall, tobacco bush is generally available as browse. Small mammals and birds eat the seeds of Tobacco bush. (Source)
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