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Growing guide

How to grow ribes

Ribes are easy to grow spring flowering shrubs, providing a valuable nectar source for foraging bees early in the year. These undemanding shrubs are useful in a shrub border, combined with spring bulbs and perennials, or they can also be grown as a loose informal hedge. Most Ribes species are decidious having leaves that colour well before falling in winter.

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Quick facts

Tough and reliable early-flowering shrub
Clusters of tubular or bell like flowers borne in abundance in spring
Leaves are often lobed and have a distinct blackcurrant smell when rubbed
Grown in a row they can make a spectacular spring flowering hedge
Flowers available in pink, red, white and yellow depending on species or cultivar
Blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries are all members of the Ribes genus grown for their edible berries
Prune immediately after flowering

All you need to know

Before you get started

Ribes are hardy shrubs that prefer a sunny or very lightly shaded position.

Think about the space available as most Ribes will grow to around 2m (6ft) in height. For a smaller

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

cultivar try R. sanguineum 'Brocklebankii' which will only grow to about 1.2m (4ft) and has yellow foliage.

Consider planting later flowering shrubs such as hydrangea or roses with the Ribes, in a mixed shrub border, so you have continued colour after it has finished flowering. You could also consider using evergreen shrubs in a mixed border with Ribes as this will help provide some winter interest.

Container grown cultivars are widely available from nurseries and garden centres all year round.

Planting

Ribes are easy to grow and will tolerate most soils that are not waterlogged in winter. Make sure they are in a sunny or lightly shaded position.

When To Plant

It is best to plant Ribes in September/October or April/May. If you buy a container-grown plant in the summer, plant it as soon as possible and water it regularly, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged
On a very free-draining or dry soil dig in some organic matter such as rotted manure, garden compost or leaf mould to help hold moisture in the soil
Water thoroughly after planting

Where To Plant

Ribes like a sunny position, but will tolerate light shade. If you plant in the shade it will produce less flower than in a sunny spot
Ribes are very hardy, and grow in most garden soils
Allow enough space for your plant to grow into – flowering currants range in size from 1m (3ft) to 2.5m (8ft), depending on the species, so check the label before you buy the plant

How To Plant

Begin by preparing the soil - dig in a bucketful of well-rotted organic matter or garden compost per square metre in the bed where you are planting the Ribes. This will encourage root growth and help hold moisture in the drier months
After planting, lightly tread or use your hands to firm the ground around the plant to remove any air pockets - this will ensure the soil level doesn't drop and expose the roots
Water thoroughly, ensuring the top 15cm (6in) of soil is moist. Dig down nearby with a trowel if you are unsure how moist the soil is

How To plant Shrubs

Ongoing care

Easy maintenance

Once established they are fairly drought tolerant and should not need watering.

However, during very dry periods they may need additional water even when established. Signs of water stress are shrivelled leaves with brown edges and leaves falling off the plant.

Ribes do not need regular feeding, but to encourage vigorous growth after pruning, plants can be fed annually in March/April, with a general purpose fertiliser such as Growmore or fish, blood and bone, or mulch with organic matter.

Feeding Plants

Pruning and training

Pruning is not essential, but it does help keep the plant to the shape and size you want
Ribes flower on previous season's growth, so pruning after flowering has finished encourages strong young stems which will increase the amount of flower the following year
Prune the stems that have flowered back to strong young growth
On established plants, or neglected plants, remove about a fifth of the older stems back to the base of the plant each year

Pruning early flowering shrubs

Propagating

Try propagating Ribes by softwood cuttings early summer if you have a greenhouse or a propagator. If not, try hardwood cuttings in the winter.

Hardwood cuttings

Softwood cuttings

Problems

Ribes are generally free from pests and diseases, although they can be affected by honeyfungus.

While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

Discover Ribes

Everything you need to know about choosing the right Ribes for you.

Discover Ribes

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