W. USA and Canada
"It provides early spring nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies, forage for the larvae of more than two dozen species of moths and butterflies, and nesting sites or cover for songbirds and small mammals. Numerous birds including grouse, quail, robins, finches, towhees, and woodpeckers, and small mammals consume the berries. Red-flowering currant provides occasional browse for game animals..." [1]
"Abundant showy flowers make this plant attractive as a landscape specimen or informal hedge and more than a dozen selections and hybrids are featured in the ornamental trade. Berries, although very tart, are considered suitable by some for jam, jelly, pie, juice or syrup. Native Americans ate the berries fresh or dried." [1]
"Red-flowering currant is a drought tolerant deciduous shrub that may be useful in restoration plantings... provides modest forage value for sheep and cattle... This species has been investigated for medicinal anti bacterial and anti viral properties and is used in currant fruit breeding programs to confer resistance to anthracnose, powdery mildew and currant stem borer." [1]
[1] Gonzalves, P. and Darris, D. RED-FLOWERING CURRANT Ribes sanguineum. USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Corvallis, Oregon. https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_risa.pdf
