Common Name: Alpine Currant

General Information

Ribes alpinum is a much-branched, deciduous shrub with a dense crown; it usually grows 50 - 180cm tall, though can occsionally reach 3 metres or more[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is grown as an ornamental, where different cultivars can be used as hedges or for ground cover.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eurasia - Norway to Spain, east to the Ukraine, Caucasus and Turkey; N. Africa - Morocco.

Habitat

Cliffs and rocky woods on limestone[]. Broadleaf and spruce-broadleaf forests, forest edges, among shrubs, riverbanks; on slopes: mainly stony - limestone as well as granite slopes; rocky forest sites[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Flies, bees
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Ribes alpinum is a very hardy plant, when dormant it can tolerate temperatures down to about -25°c[].
Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[, ]. This species succeeds on poor soils, where it develops a neat, compact form[]. Prefers a sunny position, also succeeding in deep shade though it does not fruit so well in such a position[, ].
A number of named varieties have been developed for their ornamental value.
The flowers are sweetly fragrant[].
White pine blister rust, caused by the pathogen Cronartium ribicola, is a fungal disease that is native to Asia but has spread via human activity to many other regions, where it has become more virulent. It has a complex life-cycle that requires both currants (Ribes species) and white pines (Pinus species of the section Strobus) for the disease to spread. Whilst Ribes species can generally live with the disease (it has an annual life-cycle and infects the leaves only) Pinus species can be devastated by it (it becomes perennial and spreads through the tree). Young pines are far more susceptible than mature trees. In America the growing of certain Ribes species is banned in some areas in order to protect plantations of white pine species.
Male forms of this plant are reportedly immune to rust diseases[].
Plants are dioecious. At least one male plant must be grown in the vicinity of up to 5 females if fruit is required.
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Sweet and not very acid, but less palatable than Ribes rubrum, the red currant[]. An insipid fruit[], it is not palatable[, ]. A mealy texture[]. Used for making fermented fruit drinks[]. The only fruits we have eaten have been good size red currants with a fair flavour[]. The red, globose fruit is about 5 - 10mm in diameter and can be freely borne when male and female plants are grown[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is grown as a hedge, especially in central Europe - it thrives even in shady places[]. The cultivar 'Green Mound' makes a good dwarf hedge[]. This species makes an excellent hedge[].
Plants can be grown as a tall ground cover when spaced about 2 metres apart each way[]. The cultivars 'Aureum' and 'Pumilum' are smaller growing and should be spaced about 1 metre apart[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

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[, ]. 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, mid summer in a frame[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, late autumn to late winter in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[, ].