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Ribes sanguineum
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

flowering currant

A vigorous deciduous shrub with lobed, aromatic, green leaves. Pendant racemes of reddish-pink tubular flowers in spring are followed by spherical, blue-black fruit.

Other common names
American currant
red-flowered currant
see morewinter currant
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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1.5–2.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink Red Yellow Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green Black Blue
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Grossulariaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
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
Western N America

How to grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Useful for informal hedging

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Hedging and screens
Pruning

Pruning group 2 or Pruning group 13 if wall-trained, in late summer; trim hedges after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects, gall mites, gall midge and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to currant leaf spot, powdery mildews, coral spot, rust diseases and sometimes honey fungus

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