Ribes rubrum

Common Names

Red Currant, Redcurrant, Redcurrants, Red Currants, Cultivated Currant, Garden Currant, Garden Red Currant, Red Garden Currant, Whitecurrants, Pinkcurrants

Summary

Red currant is a deciduous shrub native to western Europe, typically 1–1.5 m tall with a bushy, upright habit and five-lobed leaves. It bears inconspicuous yellow-green flowers in pendulous racemes and bright red edible berries 8–12 mm in size; the berries are self-pollinating but cross-pollination increases fruit, and established bushes yield roughly 3–4 kg mid-to late summer.

Many cultivars exist, including Red Lake, Jonkheer van Tets, and Stanza, and the plant is hardy to zones 3–7. It prefers direct bright light and evenly moist, loamy soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, with regular watering and pruning to maintain two- to three-year-old canes bearing fruit. The berries are edible fresh or in jams and jellies, and birds are attracted to the fruit, so netting may be advised.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-5 feet

Spread

4-5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, loamy soil rich in organic matter

Soil Drainage

Well-drained loamy soil.

Soil pH

6.2-6.5

Bloom Color

Greenish

Bloom Time

Spring (April–May)

Foliage Color

Dark green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Layering, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, Attracts birds, Attracts other pollinators