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Wax currant

Ribes cereum · Grossulariaceae

The gardener's calendar

The right move for September

In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around wax currant and prepare for winter.

JFMAMJJASOND Planting

ID card

Family
Grossulariaceae
Foliage
Deciduous
Flowering
Spring (April-May)
Mature size
1 to 1.5 m in height and width
Growth rate
Moderate
Hardiness
Very hardy (down to -20 °C)
Origin
United States (Western mountains)
Soil type
Well-drained, slightly dry to moist

Care

Watering

The waxberry currant is drought-tolerant once established. Water regularly during the first year after planting to promote root development. In arid climates or during prolonged dry periods, weekly watering maintains optimal growth.

Exposure

Choose a sunny location (6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight) for abundant and generous flowering. This shrub also tolerates partial shade, but flowering will be less spectacular.

Pruning

Perform light pruning after flowering (late May-June) to maintain a compact and airy shape. Remove dead or damaged branches in late winter. Avoid drastic pruning, which reduces flowering the following year.

Fertilizer

This shrub is undemanding. An application of well-decomposed compost in spring is more than sufficient. Avoid excess nitrogen, which promotes foliage at the expense of flowers.

Soil

The waxberry currant prefers well-drained, slightly alkaline to neutral soil. It adapts to poor and rocky soils, typical of its native mountainous environments. Improve heavily compacted soil with coarse compost when planting.

Diseases and pests

This is a robust species seldom affected by major diseases. Watch for powdery mildew in humid and shaded conditions; good air circulation prevents this problem. Aphids may occasionally colonize young shoots; a water spray is usually sufficient.

Did you know?

The name "waxberry" refers to the light whitish coating that covers its small red or pink berries: a fine protective layer of bloom that is very characteristic. Indigenous peoples of the Rocky Mountains consumed these berries for centuries, recognizing their nutritional and subtle gustatory qualities.

Where to buy it

Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.

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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.