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| Ribes alpinum
Alpine currantCulture: This adaptable species is easy to transplant, amenable to most soils, including acidic and alkaline conditions, and can be grown in full sun to shady sites. Because this plant readily tolerates shearing, it is often sheared into small rectangular hedges or just sheared into tight dense green balls. This species can just easily make a nice looking specimen without shearing. If a smaller size is desired, consider one of the dwarf forms. Since the female form serves as an alternate host to White Pine Blister Rust, it is illegal to grow this species in some of the northern states where white pine is an important timber species. The rust produces orange pustules on the bottom of the Ribes leaves but does its greatest damage on 5-needle pines, where it causes major branch dieback. Because female plants of this species serve as alternate hosts to the rust, some growers only propagate male forms which thus predominate in the trade. Since many Ribes species serve as hosts for the disease, the U.S. has a much smaller variety of species from this genus in cultivation than do other parts of the world. Leaf spot and anthracnose can occasionally make the leaves of the Alpine currant look unsightly in summer. Usage: The Alpine currant can be used wherever a small to medium foliage shrub is needed. It is most often sheared into small hedges but can be used in small masses. Its adaptability to a range of light exposures enhances the utility of this species. The dwarf forms are particularly useful in small planting beds and for small hedges. |
