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Fruit EdibleShrubs

Ribes petraeum

rock redcurrant

A deciduous shrub, known as the 'rock redcurrant' which reaches a height of around 1.8m with green foliage. Clusters of pretty red flowers in spring are followed by glossy red berries which are acidic in flavour but good for jams and preserves. The fruits do contain a high quantity of seeds

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Grossulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Columnar upright
Genus: Ribes can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes spiny, with simple, usually palmately lobed leaves and small tubular or bell-shaped, solitary or racemose flowers borne in spring or summer, followed by juicy, sometimes edible berries
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Redcurrants can be planted in the ground or in a large container in full sun in a sheltered location. See redcurrant cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings from young plants to avoid disease

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Edible fruit
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Prune twice yearly in summer and winter

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, gooseberry sawfly, spotted wing drosophila and currant scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to American gooseberry mildew, grey moulds and coral spot

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