It’s an ornamental red currant (Ribes Sanguineum?), and it’s having a bit of an “off” year because of the cold spring, it was spectacular last year as the flowers usually appear before the leaves do.
Thanks, I’ve been trying to keep away from the shops (and failed) as I have a long queue of plants waiting to be planted out from seeds that I sowed last year!
Hi Jason, this one doesn’t, it’s ornamental only I’m afraid. It was one of the shrubs that was already here when I started gardening and is a stately size now.
I keep meaning to get one…. it reminds me of my infant school, there was one right outside of the school gates, and everytime I smell it – I am right back there! And I have room – yes I have room!
Hi Mrs Mac, it was only this year that I thought to smell it and could smell red currants. It’s a shame it doesn’t fruit. If you have the room, I’d go for one, but given this is a one-shot shrub (i.e. it looks incredible for a few weeks in a year, then it’s just dull and green), I’d look to grow something through it that flowers later in the year to keep the interest going.
Hi Mrs Mac, yes, it’s up to your taste if you want to go for a small flowered or a “dinner plate” clematis, just make sure it’s reasonably robust. A mature currant shrub can be 2+ metres in height so you’ll want something that grows to around that size.
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Beautiful!! What is it?
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It’s an ornamental red currant (Ribes Sanguineum?), and it’s having a bit of an “off” year because of the cold spring, it was spectacular last year as the flowers usually appear before the leaves do.
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Great colors, I”m having fun hitting up the garden shops again after a long winter here in Michigan!
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Thanks, I’ve been trying to keep away from the shops (and failed) as I have a long queue of plants waiting to be planted out from seeds that I sowed last year!
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I like currants in the garden. Does it have fruit?
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Hi Jason, this one doesn’t, it’s ornamental only I’m afraid. It was one of the shrubs that was already here when I started gardening and is a stately size now.
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I keep meaning to get one…. it reminds me of my infant school, there was one right outside of the school gates, and everytime I smell it – I am right back there! And I have room – yes I have room!
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Hi Mrs Mac, it was only this year that I thought to smell it and could smell red currants. It’s a shame it doesn’t fruit. If you have the room, I’d go for one, but given this is a one-shot shrub (i.e. it looks incredible for a few weeks in a year, then it’s just dull and green), I’d look to grow something through it that flowers later in the year to keep the interest going.
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A small flowered clematis would look good through it, wouldn’t it?
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Hi Mrs Mac, yes, it’s up to your taste if you want to go for a small flowered or a “dinner plate” clematis, just make sure it’s reasonably robust. A mature currant shrub can be 2+ metres in height so you’ll want something that grows to around that size.