Red-Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) Care and Growth Guide

The red-flowering currant is a shrub that blossoms during spring and is native to the northwest United States. It produces beautiful, fragrant clusters of blooms that are adored by hummingbirds and other pollinators. The shrub’s blue-black berries might be edible, but they have a bland taste. However, these berries can still attract wildlife to your yard during autumn. You can enjoy this plant’s year-round beauty by providing it with a sunny or partially shaded spot. Its foliage turns into shades of yellow and red in the fall, and the orange-red to gray-brown bark provides winter interest. Due to its attractive form and tolerance to drought, this shrub is ideal for the back of borders, as a specimen plant or informal hedge, or on rocky slopes to help manage erosion.

The red-flowering currant has other common names such as the Flowering currant, its botanical name is Ribes sanguineum, and it belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. This deciduous shrub can grow up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It thrives in soils that are well-drained, regardless of pH levels, and it blooms during springtime with colors ranging from cerise pink-red, pale pink to white. This shrub prefers full or partial sun exposure and is hardy in zones 6-9 (USDA), which means you can find it across North America.

Here are some tips for taking care of the red-flowering currant shrub:

– Plant it in a full sun or partial shade position.
– Offer more water and shade inland, less water, and more sun in coastal areas.
– Plant it in well-draining soil and space them at least 6 feet apart to allow adequate airflow and reduce the risk of spreading disease.
– Plant it in moist soil during mild fall or early spring temperatures.
– Prune it at the end of the flowering season.

By following these care requirements, you can grow a low-maintenance and fast-growing red-flowering currant shrub that will bring beauty and attract wildlife to your yard.

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The image credit goes to Evgeniya Vlasova who captured this beautiful shot for The Spruce.

Red-flowering currants can grow in a variety of conditions, from full sun to partial shade. In hotter areas, they benefit from some afternoon shade, while cooler coastal regions suit a full sun position for maximum blooms. They like soil that is well-draining and can tolerate slightly acidic pH levels. The shrubs appreciate regular watering during their first few years, but once established, they are drought-tolerant and suitable for xeriscaping. Red-flowering currants can survive in winter temperatures as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit, but they don’t thrive in high humidity. Fertilizer is unnecessary, and pruning promotes bushier growth and profuse blooming. Propagation is possible through stem cuttings or collecting seeds. The shrubs are relatively pest- and disease-resistant but can attract aphids and currant fruit flies. Red-flowering currants bloom in early to mid-spring and have drooping clusters of fragrant flowers that attract hummingbirds. Pruning after flowering and infrequent deep watering during hot summers encourages robust growth and more blooms.