Ribes sanguineum aka Flowering Currant

Taxonomy

Ribes sanguineum, also known as the flowering currant, redflower currant, or red-flowering currant, is a vigorous deciduous shrub native to the western United States and Canada. It belongs to the family Grossulariaceae and is widely cultivated and naturalized in temperate regions of Europe and Australasia. This shrub grows up to 2 meters tall and has rounded, shallowly lobed leaves that emit a resinous scent when young. In spring, it produces pendant clusters of larger than average reddish-pink tubular flowers, attracting pollinators. The bark is dark brownish-grey with prominent paler brown lenticels. The flowers bloom at the same time as the leaves emerge, forming racemes of 5-30 flowers. Each flower has five red or pink petals and measures 5-10 mm in diameter. The fruit of Ribes sanguineum is a dark purple oval berry, about 1 cm long, but it has an insipid taste. This species is hardy in zone 6 and can tolerate various soil types, including light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils. It prefers well-drained soil but can also grow in heavy clay soil. Ribes sanguineum can thrive in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soils and can tolerate maritime exposure. It is in flower from April to May, with seeds ripening from August to October. The plant is hermaphroditic and is pollinated by bees.

Common names

Flowering Currant, Red Flowering Currant, Redflower Currant, Winter Currant

How to care for Flowering Currant

Difficulty

Caring for Flowering Currant is a breeze, as it is highly adaptable and forgiving to minor neglect.

Water

Flowering Currant should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Flowering Currant loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Flowering Currant prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Fertilizer

Repotting the Flowering Currant should be done either when it has doubled in size or on a yearly basis, whichever occurs sooner. Fresh potting soil with all the required nutrients, refreshed annually, will provide the plant with all the necessary sustenance, making the use of fertilizer unnecessary. Keep in mind that plants receive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Growth-pattern

New growth will sprout from the top of the Flowering Currant as it grows vertically.

Region of origin

Flowering Currant’s native range is Western N. America. Occasionally naturalized in Britain.


More info:
Wikipedia