skunk currant

Skunk Currant Ribes glandulosum
Family: Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage)
Branching: Alternate

There are several other species of Currant (and the closely related Gooseberries, which have bristly and thorny stems) and they all have maple-like leaves. Skunk Currant is one of the more obvious, which large red buds. As its name suggests, all parts of the plant have a "skunk-like" odour when crushed. They are one of the only plants with such red buds. It is usually a sprawling plant but occasionally grows more-or-less upright.

Winter twig of Skunk Currant

Another view of the winter twig

End bud and clustered leaf scars

Red leaves in the fall, and end bud

Winter twig