Ribes sanguineum- Flowering currant

Description

Common name: Flowering currant, red-flowering currant

Ribes sanguineum is a North American plant, native to the western United States and Canada. It is a hardy deciduous and multi-stemmed shrub up to 3 meters. In late winter – early spring the plant is covered with dangling racemes of gorgeous pink flowers. The flowers are very attractive to native NZ Tui and honey bees.

Flower scent is similar to that of blackcurrants. The rounded lobed light green leaves appear as flowering finishes. Leaves turn various shades of yellow, and copper in the autumn. Flowers can be used in the same way as Elderflowers to make syrup. Leaves are edible in salads and teas.

• 3 x 3 meters
• Sun – shade
• Hardy
• dry tolerant
• 1.25 litre pot