Currant

Ribes spp.

Fine in part shade; dislikes hot summers.

Type: shrub · berries and small fruit
Hardiness: zones 3 to 7
Light: part shade
Size: about 4 ft tall, 4 ft wide
Harvest: June to July
From: Europe and N. Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.

Good for: food, pollinators.

Native to: Temperate Europe, Northern Europe & the taiga, Central Asian steppe. Hardy in zones 3 to 7.

The story

Western Europe. White currants are a color form of red currants. They're sweeter and milder.

Planting

Sun to part shade. Soil: moist, rich (pH 6.0–6.5). Spacing: 4 ft. Pollination: self-fertile.

Growing

Water: keep moist. Winter: Remove stems older than 3 years. Spring: Watch for currant worm (sawfly) stripping leaves in May. Summer: Pick whole strigs. Fall: Mulch.

Harvest and use

Harvest: June–July. First crop: 2 years.

What to watch for

Imported currant worm, powdery mildew.

See if Currant fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.

More berries and small fruit

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home