Grow Zones: 5,6,7,8,9

Other Names: Pink Winter Currant, Blood Currant

Blood current or red-flowering currant is a highly ornamental shrub hedge that features pinkish-red five petaled flower blooms beginning in the month of February.

The shrub grows 8-10 ft tall and makes for a showy ornamental that adds a welcoming presence to an entryway or to a driveway. Either way, choosing this shrub will surely showcase your landscaping skills and add to neighborhood curb appeal.

Red Flowering Currant flowers fill with with nectar in the summer, which brings about the interest in hummingbirds. In fall, the flowers drop off and the currant shrub sets to fruit.

Ribes sanguineum fruits are a deep purple color. Like most currant fruits, these are edible can be added to make preserves or jams by adding sugar or can be left for the birds to enjoy.

Germination Procedure: Cold stratify seeds in the freezer for 4 months before sowing to break seed dormancy. Otherwise, plant in the fall for overwintering and spring germination. Sow seeds at less than a half of an inch depth. Keep seeds and soil moist during the germination phase.