About
An upright, deciduous shrub with foliage emerging green in spring, turning to red in summer to late autumn. Flowers are green in spring, followed by medium-sized blackcurrant fruits which are sweet and aromatic. Shows good resistance to mildews and leaf spot.
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
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible, Shrubs
HabitBushy, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationBlackcurrants prefer a sunny site with well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, but will cope in most other soil conditions and tolerate light shade. Mulch annually with well-rotted manure or compost and apply a general purpose fertiliser in spring. Please see our blackcurrant cultivation page for more growing tips
PruningPrune in winter. Blackcurrants fruit best on younger wood so aim to remove up to one quarter of the oldest stems at ground level to encourage new growth from the base
PropagationPropagate by hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, blackcurrant gall midge, pigeons and blackcurrant big bud mite
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to a leaf spot, powdery mildews, coral spot and sometimes honey fungus