Golden Acre Home & Garden Centre's Plant Library

Description:

A medium-sized shrub grown for its black berries in summer, ideal for making jam; quite stiff and upright, becoming looser with age; best for a reserved spot in the orchard or fruit garden, can be susceptible to mildew so allow for good air movement

Edible Qualities

Black Currant is a medium-sized shrub that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces clusters of black round berries which are usually ready for picking in mid summer. The berries have a tart taste.

The berries are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Baking
• Preserves
• Wine-Making
• Sauces

Features & Attributes

Black Currant has rich green deciduous foliage on a plant with a round habit of growth. The lobed leaves turn yellow in fall. It features an abundance of magnificent black berries in mid summer.

This is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and bees to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Black Currant is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Black Currant will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.