About

A compact, evergreen shrub with dark-green leathery leaves. In late winter and early spring yellow-green flowers are born in pendent racemes, providing a good early season food source for pollinators. Flowers are followed by red berries that ripen to black.

About the 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

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeShrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesMixed borders, hedging, foundation planting.
FragranceFlower

Care notes

CultivationEasy to grow shrub for sun or partial shade. Works well when trained against a fence or wall.
PruningPruning group 2
PropagationPropagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to gall mites, gall midge and aphids
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to a leaf spot, powdery mildews, coral spot and sometimes honey fungus