Ribes rubrum
| Ribes rubrum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 4' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Ribes rubrum (common name: red currant)
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, even succeeding on a north-facing wall[4], though they do not fruit so well in such a position[5]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 to 6[4].
Hardy to about -20°c[4].
Red currants are often cultivated in temperate zones for their edible fruit, there are some named varieties, including forms with white fruits[6][7]. Most cultivars are self-fertile and set a good crop on their own[4]. The fruit is produced at the base of one-year old and older wood, plants start to fruit at 3 - 4 years from seed[4].
This is an aggregate species comprising R. spicatum and R. rubrum. There is some confusion in nomenclature with some botanists only recognising 2 species, R. silvestre. (syn R. sativum) and R. spicatum (syn R. rubrum)[8][4].
Plants can harbour a stage of white pine blister rust, so should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[9]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[4].
Range: Western Europe, including Britain.
Habitat: Damp soils in hedges and woods, avoiding acid soils[10][11][8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[12][13][14][5]. A pleasant acid flavour, it can be eaten out of hand but is more often cooked in pies, jams etc[K]. There are rather a lot of seeds in each fruit[K].
Medicinal: The fruit is antiscorbutic, aperient, depurative, digestive, diuretic, laxative, refrigerant and sialagogue[6][10][15].
The leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide[16]. A concoction of them is used externally to relieve rheumatic symptoms[10]. They are also used in poultices to relieve sprains or reduce the pain of dislocations[10].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[17].
A black dye is obtained from the fruit[17].
The fruit is used cosmetically in face-masks for firming up tired and lifeless skin[10].
Pollinators: Bees, self
Notes: Excellent for light shade in the woodland garden, or for the north side of the house.
We can supply a few young plants, or they can be easily obtained from a garden centre.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The fresh leaves contain the toxin hydrogen cyanide, though details of quantities are not given[16]. This substance is found in several foods, including almonds. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve di
Also Known As: R. sylvestre. R. vulgare. pro parte
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 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Arnberger, Leslie. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments, 1968.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.