Also known as Currant / Gooseberry · 85 gardener saves
Ribes: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Ribes, the genus most gardeners know as currant / gooseberry. We track 7 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 7 most-saved Ribes varieties
Of 7 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedGolden Currant
Ribes aureum
#2 most savedAlpine Currant
Ribes alpinum
#3 most savedGreen Mound Alpine Currant
Ribes alpinum 'Green Mound'
Claremont Currant
Ribes sanguineum 'Claremont'
King Edward VII Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum 'King Edward VII'
Pink-Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum 'glutinosum'
Evergreen Currant
Ribes viburnifolium
How to grow Ribes
What the Ribes varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 7 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Ribes year
- PruneApril and May100% of varieties
Prune immediately after flowering to shape and encourage next year's blooms.
- PlantFebruary, March, April, September and October71% of varieties
Plant bare-root stock in late winter/early spring or container stock in fall.
- FertilizeMarch43% of varieties
Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer only if growth is weak.
- Spring CleanupFebruary43% of varieties
Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches before new growth starts.
- MulchMarch43% of varieties
Apply a layer of mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Do
- Water deeply during dry spells 🌱
- Prune after flowering to maintain shape
- Mulch annually to conserve moisture
- Water consistently, especially during dry spells 💧
- Prune to shape and remove dead wood after flowering ✂️
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
- Don’t prune in late fall or winter
- Refrain from fertilizing excessively in late summer
- Don’t prune in late fall or winter to prevent stress ❌
What goes wrong with Ribes
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Sticky residue and distorted leaves | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing and speckled foliage | Use horticultural oil or miticides |
| Currant Sawfly | Small green caterpillars that can rapidly defoliate the plant. | Hand-pick caterpillars. Spray with insecticidal soap or spinosad. Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides. |
| Powdery Mildew | White powdery coating on leaves | Improve air circulation and apply fungicide |
| White Pine Blister Rust | Yellow-orange pustules on the underside of leaves in summer. | There is no cure. Do not plant near 5-needled (white) pines. Remove and destroy infected plants. |
| Leaf Spot | Dark spots on leaves | Remove affected leaves and avoid overhead watering |
Making more Ribes
Cuttings
- Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.
- Mist cuttings and keep in a humid environment for 4–6 weeks.
- Transplant rooted cuttings once established.
Hardwood Cuttings
- Take 8-12 inch cuttings from dormant, one-year-old wood in late fall.
- Make a slanted cut at the bottom and a flat cut at the top.
- Insert cuttings two-thirds of their length into the ground or a pot.
- Roots will form by the following spring.
Ribes questions
How many types of Ribes are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 7 distinct Ribes varieties. The most popular — ranked by 85 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Ribes grow in?
Across its varieties, Ribes covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Ribes bloom?
Most Ribes varieties bloom in mid-spring, early spring. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Ribes should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Design with Ribes in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
