Ribes sanguineum

RHS Plant Profile

flowering currant

Other common names

American currant, red-flowered currant, winter currant

Shrubs

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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.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or 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): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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