Ribes nigrum Blackcurrant 200mm

Ribes nigrum, commonly known as blackcurrant or cassis, is a deciduous shrub widely grown for its dark, glossy black edible berries renowned for high vitamin C and antioxidant content. Native to temperate regions of Europe and northern Asia, it prefers damp, fertile soils and cooler climates.

Key Characteristics

Size: Medium-sized shrub, typically 1.5 meters tall and wide.

Leaves: Palmate with 3–5 lobes, sharp-toothed margins, strong aroma when crushed.

Flowers: Small, greenish-yellow to reddish-brown flowers arranged in hanging racemes (strigs) of 10-20 flowers, blooming in spring.

Fruit: Clusters of shiny, dark purple to black berries ripen in midsummer; highly nutritious and used fresh or processed into jams, syrups, and drinks like Ribena.

Growing Conditions: Prefers full sun to partial shade with moist, rich, well-drained soil; frost hardy but sensitive to late spring frosts affecting flowers.

Uses and Benefits

• The berries are prized for culinary uses (jams, syrups, pies), nutritional benefits (high vitamin C), and traditional medicines
• Plants can produce up to 4.5 to 10 kg of fruit annually in good conditions
• Attractive to pollinators and support garden wildlife

Maintenance

Requires regular pruning to maintain productivity by removing older, less fruitful stems; cultivation is best suited to temperate cool climates.

Summary

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a versatile and productive shrub well-suited to cooler temperate zones, offering valuable fruits for culinary and health uses alongside ornamental garden value.