 |
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Landscaping Value:
Particularly attractive as a shrub border plant.
Best in early spring.
Other
Cultivars:
‘Elk River Red’ has rich red flowers.
‘King Edward VIII’ is lower growing with red flowers. |
|
References: Brenzel, Kathleen N. ed. 1995. Sunset Western Garden Book. Sunset
publishing Corporation. Menlo Park, CA
Dirr, Michael A., 1990. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their
identification, Ornamental characteristics, Culture, Propagation and
Uses. 4th ed., Stipes Publishing Company, Champaign, Il.
Huxley, Anthony and mark Griffiths eds. 1992. New Royal
Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening (4 vols.) Stockton
Press. New York |
|
Natural Range:
Pacific
Northwest coast ranges from Vancouver Island to California |
|
Hardiness:
Zones 4
– 9, 14 – 24 (Sunset) and 5 – 6 (USDA) |
|
|
|
at
a glance:
Common Name:
Red
flowering currant, Winter currant
Location: In
the native garden near the pond.
Plant type:
Deciduous shrub
Family:
Grossulariaceae
Height/Spread:: 4
– 12 feet high, 3 – 8 feet wide
Leaves:
Alternate 2 - 4 inches wide with 3 – 5 lobes. Slightly maple-like.
Dark green above, whitish pubescent below.
Flower: Deep
pink to red and small about ¼ inch wide and ½ inch long, but 10 – 30
of them in a 2 – 4 inch drooping cluster is striking
Fruit: Blue
black berries with whitish bloom.
1/3rd inch in diameter. Some say they are not palatable, but some
native tribes were said to eat them.
Disease/pests: Red
flowering Currant is an the alternate host of white pine blister rust,
a fungus that has killed many western white pines. Avoid planting it
if valuable pines are present
Bloom Period:
Buds
break in late January, flowers March to April
Conditions:
Sun to
light shade. Fairly drought tolerant, but best with moderate water |
