Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick et al., USDA Corvallis
Family
Grossulariaceae
Botanical Name
RIBES nigrum 'Boskoop Giant'
Plant Common Name
Black Currant
General Description
Grown for its flavorful berries, black currant is a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub from Eurasia. An heirloom variety introduced before 1885, 'Boskoop Giant' produces clusters of plump, juicy, exceptionally flavorful, few-seeded fruits. The round, tart, long-lasting berries ripen purple-black in early to midsummer, becoming sweeter as they mature. They are preceded by drooping clusters of inconspicuous greenish and purple flowers in spring. The fruits are excellent for preserves, pies, and sauces. The toothed, three-lobed, maple-like leaves emit a pungent odor when bruised. This shrub has a relatively rangy, upright, spreading habit.
For best growth and fruiting, plant this shrub in full to partial sun and well-drained soil. It needs some winter chill to perform well. In climates with hot summers, choose a site that has little or no afternoon sun. Mulch the plant to help provide even moisture and cool the soil. Remove two-year old stems to make room for new stems that are more productive and to allow sun to reach all the stems.
Use black currant in mixed edible plantings and hedges. As an alternate host for white pine blister rust, it may be banned in areas where that disease is extant (http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/FactSheets/wpineblister/wpineblister.htm). Although some black currant cultivars are rust-resistant, 'Boskoop Giant' is susceptible.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 8
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Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7
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Plant Type
Fruit
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
6'-7' / 1.8m - 2.1m
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Width
6'-7' / 1.8m - 2.1m
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Europe, Central Asia, Western Asia
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Green, Purple
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Fruit Color
Purple, Black
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
No
