Ribes alpinum

Author: L.
Type Species
References 11, 17, 200

CommonNames

Alpine currant Author 1

Higher Orders

Family Grossulariaceae Currant family1

Description

Habit : Shrub1

Height 1.21.

Width 11.

Habitat

Key Words: cliff2, woods2, rocky wood2, rocky2, rocky2, rocky wood2, woods2, cliff2

Cliffs and rocky woods on limestone[17].1

Geographical Range

Britain.1

Growing Conditions

Hardyness 21.

Soil Types

Soil weight

Key Words: Requires Well Drained Soil1, Grows in nutritionally poor soil1, Likes Heavy Soil1, Likes Medium Soil1, Likes Light Soil1

Soil pH

Key Words: Basic soil1, Neutral soil1, Acid soil1

Soil moisture

Key Words: Moist soil1

Shade Tolerance

Key Words: Semi-Shade1, No Shade1

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[11, 200]. This species succeeds on poor soils[11]. Does well in shade though it does not fruit so well in such a position[11]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[184]. A number of named varieties have been developed for their ornamental value. The flowers are sweetly fragrant[208]. Plants are dioecious. At least one male plant must be grown in the vicinity of up to 5 females if fruit is required. Plants can harbour a stage of white pine blister rust, so should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[155]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].1

Propagation Details

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at 0 - 9°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[113, 164]. 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, July/August in a frame[113]. 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[78, 200].1

Plant Uses

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[105]. Sweet and not very acid, but less palatable than R. rubrum, the red currant[2]. An insipid fruit[100], it is not palatable[1, 11]. The only fruits we have eaten have been good size red currants with a fair flavour[K]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter and can be freely borne when male and female plants are grown[K].1

Edible Parts : Fruit1

Medicinal Uses

None known1

Other Uses

Key Words: Ground cover1, Hedge1

The cultivar 'Green Mound' makes a good dwarf hedge[182]. Plants can be grown as a tall ground cover when spaced about 2 metres apart each way[208]. The cultivars 'Aureum' and 'Pumilum' are smaller growing and should be spaced about 1 metre apart[208].1


Footnotes

1pfafrich 14 Oct 2002 Import of Plants For A Future data
2pfafrich 14 Oct 2002 Data derived from Plants For A Future Data using some sort of pattern matching. Validity questionable

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