Flowering Currant (ribes sanguineum)

• Deciduous shrub with pendulous clusters of pink/red tubular flowers in early spring (March-May), providing vibrant colour and fragrance.
• Aromatic lobed leaves release a pleasant scent if you give the leaves a Squeeze.
• Excellent early nectar source for bees and pollinators; attracts wildlife, including birds that eat the blue-black berries.
• Hardy (fully frost-resistant in UK conditions), low-maintenance, and suitable for cottage gardens, wildlife areas, borders, or informal hedging.

Planting and Care

• Site: Full sun for best flowering; tolerates partial shade.
• Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained; adapts to chalk, clay, loam, or sand; neutral to slightly acidic preferred.
• Planting time: Autumn to early spring; space plants 1.5-2m apart for airflow and growth (mature size: 1.5-2.5m height and spread).
• Preparation: Incorporate well-rotted manure or compost into the planting hole.
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring to retain moisture; prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape.