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.
Lilli Day aka bookbabie08/05/2013 - 9:55 pm
Great colors, I"m having fun hitting up the garden shops again after a long winter here in Michigan!
Sunil08/05/2013 - 11:10 pm
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!
gardeninacity08/05/2013 - 11:04 pm
I like currants in the garden. Does it have fruit?
Sunil08/05/2013 - 11:12 pm
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.
susan maclean08/05/2013 - 11:15 pm
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!
Sunil08/05/2013 - 11:23 pm
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.
susan maclean09/05/2013 - 7:36 am
A small flowered clematis would look good through it, wouldn't it?
Sunil09/05/2013 - 3:41 pm
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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