Ribes sanguineum
Grossulariaceae
March to May.
It is found throughout the country.
See the BSBI distribution map for Flowering Currant
It is a neophyte introduced into the UK in the 1820s,
It is widely planted in hedges, gardens, parks and public
places.
It was recorded in the wild in the 1910s and has become
naturalized in woods, verges, hedges, brownfield sites
and waste ground.
It is increasing.
Flowering Currant is a deciduous, aromatic shrub
up to 3m.
Flowers are pink to red and hang in racemes.
The flowers are epigynous and arise from an
extension of the receptacle - the hypanthium.
Flowers have 5 red/pink/white petals which are shorter
than the sepals.
There are 5 stamens, also arising from the hypanthium.
The 2 styles appear fused and have yellow capitate
stigmas.
The 5 sepals form a tube with spreading petaloid
lobes. The tube and flower buds are covered in
glands.
The fruit is a berry which helps spread into the wild
by self seeding.
Leaves are heart-shaped and crinkly. They have a
pleasant smell when rubbed.
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Flowering Currant on the edge
of a wood in Dorset
In a garden
Hanging raceme
Flower - 5 white petals above the
larger pink sepals
Close-up - 5 anthers, fused style
and 2 capitate stigmas
White petals above the pink sepals
Sepal tubes above hypanthium.
Both with glands
Berry
Leaves and dangling racemes
Leaves
Flowering Currant on old wall
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