Ribes rubrum

RHS Plant Profile
common redcurrant

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common redcurrant RHS
common redcurrant RHS
common redcurrant RHS

Other common names

garnet berry, northern redcurrant, raisin tree, whitecurrant, pinkcurrant, rhyfon coch

Plants for pollinators
Fruit Edible Shrubs

A deciduous shrub with three- or five-lobed leaves. Small, greenish-yellow flowers are followed by hanging clusters of shining, edible, red berries. Parent of many varieties of redcurrant but also whitecurrants and pinkcurrants

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
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

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Grossulariaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
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
W Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Will grow in any reasonable garden soil, and benefits from mulching with well-rotted compost, manure or bark particularly on dry soils. See redcurrant cultivation or whitecurrant cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Edible fruit

Pruning

May be pruned to create a permanent framework as a bush, standard, cordon or fan. Main pruning in dormant season; also summer pruning of vigorous side shoots

Pests

May be susceptible to gall mites, gall midge and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to a leaf spot, powdery mildews, coral spot and sometimes honey fungus