Flowering Currant

 

Red currant in bloom

B. Doherty 2018

Common Name:    Flowering Currant
Scientific Name:    Ribes sanguineum
Gaelic:                     Cuirín
Flowering Period  March, April, May

Identification Tips Flowers have 5 spreading deep pink sepals and 5 small pale pink petals almost forming a tube at the centre. The leaves are bright green with 5 lobes and have an unpleasant scent when crushed.

More about Redcurrant in Bloom

This deciduous shrub which was originally planted in gardens, sometimes as hedging, but now – courtesy of the birds – has been sown into the wild. The flowers are borne in drooping bunches from the tips of the branches, (6–30 flowers per bunch). The berries which follow in autumn are edible but quite bitter, hence the name Ribes – from Arabic ‘Ribas’ meaning acid tasting. This plant is a native of North America and was brought to Europe in the 19th century. It is very popular with birds and insects just love the flowers.