Currant 'Alpine'

Currant 'Alpine'

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$29.99
Title

 Known as the "near-indestructible" shrub, the Alpine Currant is a master of versatility and refined structure. It features a dense, mounding habit of growth with small, deeply lobed leaves that resemble miniature maple leaves. These emerge in a bright, cheerful green in early spring—often before other shrubs have even begun to wake—maintaining a lush, glossy emerald appearance throughout the summer. Because its foliage naturally grows thick right to the ground, it creates a seamless, polished look that is perfect for low-maintenance hedges or adding a clean, architectural finish to any garden border.
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Plant Details

Mature Size:

3–6' H x 3–6' W

Zone:

2-7

Watering:

Medium

Foliage Type:

Deciduous

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Light:

Full Sun/Part Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Alpine Currant, Mountain Currant, Tasteless Mountain Currant

Scientific Name:

Ribes alpinum

Type:

Ornamental Shrub / Deciduous Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: 3–6 feet (91–182 cm) tall and wide.
  • Growth Habit: Dense, compact, and mound-forming.
  • Form: Rounded to upright-oval.
  • Growth Rate: Medium.
  • Longevity: Approximately 30 to 50 years.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full sun to heavy shade.
  • Soil Preferences: Adaptable to most soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils.
  • Soil Tolerance: Tolerates alkaline (high pH) soils and poor, nutrient-deficient grounds.
  • Watering: Consistent medium moisture is best, but avoid waterlogged or poorly aerated sites.

Special Features:

Extremely cold-hardy, salt-tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant, and highly resistant to urban pollution.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom Information: Inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers in April and May.
  • Fall Colour: Foliage turns a soft, muted yellow.
  • Bark: Chestnut brown stems that may peel or exfoliate slightly with age.
  • Fruit: Small scarlet berries on female plants in mid-summer (though most commercial clones are fruitless males).

Garden Value:

  • Ornamental Interest: Early spring leaf-out and glossy green summer texture.
  • Landscaping Uses: Excellent for formal/informal hedges, foundation plantings, and massing in shade.
  • Benefits: Highly effective for erosion control on slopes and urban screening due to its density.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Flowers provide early-season pollen for bees; berries (on females) are eaten by birds.
  • Human Value: Provides reliable privacy and structure in difficult urban or shaded sites.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Spring or autumn.
  • Spacing: 3–4 feet apart for a dense hedge.
  • Location Tips: Thrives under the canopy of large trees where other shrubs might struggle.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Highly versatile; thrives in full sun, partial shade, or even full shade.
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers medium, well-drained moisture but is remarkably drought-tolerant once established.
  • Maintenance: Exceptionally tolerant of pruning; can be sheared into formal shapes or left natural.
  • Fertilization: Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring as new growth begins.

Tolerances:

Heavy shade, drought, urban pollution, and wind

Tips For Success:

Shear up to three times a year for a sharp, formal hedge look; mulch to keep roots cool in hot summers.
Fruit Profile