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Ribes sanguineum 'Red Pimpernel'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

A compact, deciduous shrub to around 1.5m tall with aromatic, 3- or 5-lobed dark green leaves. Drooping clusters of pinkish-red flowers open from deep red buds in spring and are sometimes followed by black berries

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Size
Ultimate height
1.5–2.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink Red Green
Summer Green Black
Autumn Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

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

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Grossulariaceae
Native to the UK
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

Accepted

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
  • Coastal
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Hedging and screens
  • Flower borders and beds
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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