Winter Currant

Ribes sanguineum | Also known as: Red-flowered Currant, Flowering Currant | Rating: 3 votes | Print / Pdf

Ribes sanguineum provides a striking injection of colour into any garden. Commonly referred to as the Winter Currant, it is also known as the Red-flowered Currant thanks to the myriad of drooping clusters of ruby blooms that emerge when flowering. It has maple-leafed, deeply furrowed foliage that turns to shades of gold and red in autumn. Purple currant berries appear in summer. The Winter Currant thrives in moist soil with average drainage and it likes the shade. It’s well suited as a high hedgerow beneath taller trees, but can be wall-trained or be a feature plant in a garden. Regular post-flowering pruning is recommended

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Plant
Known dangers?
  • no
Height [m]
  • 1.2 - 3.7
Spread [m]
  • 1.2 - 1.8
Dominant flower colour
  • Pink
Flower Fragrance
  • No, neutral please
Flowering seasons
  • Early spring
  • Mid spring
  • Late spring
  • Early summer
  • Mid summer
  • Late summer
  • Early autumn
  • Mid autumn
Foliage in spring
  • Yellow
Foliage in summer
  • Green
Foliage in Autumn
  • Yellow
Propagation methods
  • Hardwood cuttings
Growth habit
  • Rounded
Environment
Acidity
  • Acidic
  • Neutral
  • Alkaline
Hardiness zone
  • Z5-8
Heat zone
  • H8-6
Winter temperatures [°C]
  • -29 - -7
Heat days
  • 45 - 120
Moisture
  • well-drained
  • well-drained but frequently watered
Soil type
  • sandy
  • Clay
  • chalky
  • loams
Sun requirements
  • Full sun
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered
Usage
Standard category
  • Trees & shrubs
  • Shrubs
Grown for
  • Attractive Flowers
Creative category
  • Kid Approved
  • For Beginners
  • Colours
  • Neighbour repellant
Garden spaces
  • Hedges and screens
Gardening expertise
  • intermediate
Time to reach full size
  • up to 10 years
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