Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 3.0
Blackcurrant
Shrub·Ribes nigrum
Full sun
Sun
Medium
Water
Moist soil
Drainage
Zones 3–8
Hardiness
Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) is a shrub. It grows best in full sun and has moderate water needs. It grows well with tansy and chives.
Through the year
DormantLeafing outFloweringFruitingReady to harvestDying back
Works well with
from wiki dataWHAT IT NEEDS
Wants full sun
Needs moderate water
Tolerates moist soil, as long as it drains well
Prefers soil pH 6.5–7.5
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Prefers loam, clay soil
Struggles in compacted soil
Draws up potassium, phosphorus from deep in the soil
Adds a moderate amount of organic matter to the soil
Partners with mycorrhizal fungi to boost nutrient uptake
WHAT IT GIVES
Gives fruit (edible berries)
Gives mulch biomass (medium)
Provides potassium
Provides phosphorus
Attracts pollinators
Attracts birds
HOW IT GROWS
SIZE & SPACING
Shrub layer
Height100–200 cm
Spacing150 cm (min 100 cm)
Root depthShallow
Width100–150 cm
Width figures are rough estimates, the most variable measurement in our data.
AI estimate · accuracy improves as growers contribute corrections.
HOW TO PROPAGATE
Propagate by cuttings, seeds, division
Difficulty
Establishes in about 2 yr
Self-seeds a little on its own
Where this comes from
Parsed11 Sept 2026
ConfidenceNot recorded
Photograph Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 3.0