Ribes laurifolium
| Ribes laurifolium | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 5' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Winter-Mid Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Ribes laurifolium
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at between 0 and 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[1][2]. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[3][1].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[3][4].
Cultivation: Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[5][4]. Plants are quite tolerant of shade though do not fruit so well in such a position[5].
Hardy to about -15°c[6] if given shelter from cold drying winds[4]. Plants are of slow to moderate growth[7]. They can be slow to establish, often taking a year or two to settle down when planted out[7].
The flowers emit a soft sweet perfume[8].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required[9].
Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[10]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[4].
Range: E. Asia - W. China.
Habitat: Often found climbing into trees in forests, on slopes, river banks and rocks at elevations of 2100 - 3600 metres[11].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[12][4]. A blackcurrant[7]. The purple fruit can be up to 20mm long and 10mm wide[11]. It can be hairy (in subspecies laurifolium ) or smooth (subspecies yunnanense )[11].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall-Early Winter
Flower Type: Dioecious
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Davis, Brian. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking, 1990.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Arnberger, Leslie. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments, 1968.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Flora of China. 1994.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.