Alpine Currant Care

Ribes alpinum, known as mountain currant or alpine currant, is a small deciduous shrub native to central and northern Europe from Finland and Norway south to the Alps and Pyrenees and Caucasus, Georgia; in the south of its range, it is confined to high altitudes. It is scarce in western Europe, in Britain being confined to a small number of sites in northern England and Wales.

Ribes alpinum, commonly called alpine currant, is a compact, mound-forming shrub which grows 3-6' tall. Bright green leaves are 3-5 lobed, turning to a dull yellow in fall. Flowers are greenish-yellow and inconspicuous. Dioecious (separate male and female plants). Fruit on female plants is an inedible, scarlet berry. However, most plants of this species which are sold commercially are male clones (males are reportedly immune to rust diseases). Stems are chestnut brown and may exfoliate (peel) as they mature. Genus name comes from the Danish word ribs meaning red currant. Specific epithet means of the alpine.