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Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)

Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum

EdibleZones 38shrub

Fruits on last year's wood, so each winter cut out about a third of the oldest stems to the base to keep new growth coming.

The blackcurrant, black currant or cassis is a deciduous shrub in the family Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries. It is native to temperate parts of central and northern Europe and northern Asia, where it prefers damp fertile soils. It is widely cultivated both commercially and domestically.

Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

At a glance

Sunlight
Partial shade
Water need
Medium
Mature height
1.5 m
Maintenance
Medium
Hardiness
USDA 3–8
Layers
shrub

Functional roles

foodfruit

Pollination & soil

Self-fertile — one plant will crop
Soil
medium/loam, heavy/clay
pH
Neutral

Rich, moisture-retentive soil; the hungriest of the currants.

Propagation

How to make more of this plant for free — the permaculture way.

cuttingeasy

When: Hardwood cuttings autumn

One of the easiest of all — cuttings root readily.

Seed data pending expert review. Identification photo and description are sourced from Wikipedia/Wikimedia; always confirm a plant in person before eating any part of it.