Redcurrant, Whitecurrant & Blackcurrant Bushes

Choose from our variety of redcurrant, whitecurrant and blackcurrant bushes to grow your own fruits. Also known as Ribes rubrum, these fruit shrubs are easy to grow from containers but can also go in the garden.

What’s the Difference Between Red, White and Blackcurrants?

Blackcurrants: Slightly larger than red or white currants, with a bold, tart flavour and high vitamin C content. Most varieties are not self-pollinating, so they’ll need a partner to fruit well. Blackcurrants thrive in shady spots or partial sun, with moist, well-draining, humus-rich soil. Their shallow, wide-spreading root systems mean they don’t need deep soil, making them great for borders or underplanting.

Redcurrants: Glossy, translucent, bright and tangy. Redcurrants grow on upright bushes that are self-pollinating, so you only need one to get fruit. They do best in full sun, and are ideal for training against walls or fences. They’ll also grow happily in containers with regular watering and feeding.

Whitecurrants: In general, white currants are the sweetest of the three. Whitecurrants are actually a cultivar of redcurrant, and share the same care needs - but they’re often preferred for fresh eating. Their pale, pearl-like berries are especially good for kids or those who find blackcurrants too sharp.

How to care for your currants

Currants are low-maintenance but benefit from a few simple growing principles. They prefer moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost or organic matter, and thrive with a good mulch layer to retain moisture. Water young plants regularly, especially in dry spells or if grown in pots.

While they don’t grow well alongside non-currant companion plants, planting different currant types together can improve fruiting. Cross-pollination between red, white, and blackcurrants helps reduce “run-off” (this is when berries fall before fully ripening) and increases yield.

Give them space to breathe, prune annually to keep the plants open and productive, and you’ll be rewarded with deliciously reliable crops for years to come.

Our Highest-Yielding Currant

If you’re looking for maximum yield from a single plant, Blackcurrant 'Ribes Blanka' is the one to go for. It produces masses of large, sweet berries on long strings from late July through to August - more than any other currant we grow. Easy to care for and suitable for most garden spaces, it’s a reliable, heavy cropper that rewards you year after year.