Ribes fasciculatum

Family: Grossulariaceae

What it is like

Ribes fasciculatum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf from March to November, in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1.5

Where it is found

Stony places near villages in Korea. Forests and forest margins, bamboo woods, foothills, stony slopes and roadsides at elevations of 700 - 2400 metres in China.

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Fruit - raw or cooked. Unpalatable. The reddish-brown fruit is about 5 - 10mm in diameter and contains a lot of fairly large seeds. What little flesh there is remains unpleasant even in the autumn. The fruit hangs well, probably because it is unpalatable. Young leaves - cooked.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating:

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality. Plants are quite tolerant of shade though do not fruit so well in such a position. Hardy to about -20°c. The flowers have a delicious aromatic perfume. The fruit can hang on the plant until winter. Plants can harbour a stage of white pine blister rust, so should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus. Female flowers appear to be perfect but the pollen in them and the ovules in the male flowers are sterile. Plants are therefore functionally dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 4 - 5 months cold stratification at between 0 to 9°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 4-8

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

R. japonicum. non Maxim.