Hi all, Was wondering if anyone knew where I can find Alpine Currant seeds. Want to grow a hedge form this plant in zone 2. looks really beautiful but can't find this plant anywhere. thanks for any info.
It is frequent here as an invasive weed shrub. I'd not recommend it as a hedge, as the shrubs are low, lax, and rather shapeless, as well as having invasive potential.
I have my doubts that it'd be invasive in Fort St. James. It looks like propagation is either by seed or cuttings - I'd guess most of the material for sale in Canada is from cuttings, which is why you are having trouble tracking down seed. It seems like some cultivars are more useful for hedging than others -- these would have to be purchased from cutting-grown material.
Any reason why not? It is native north to 65°N in Scandinavia, so well adapted to cold continental climates as at Fort St. James. BTW, I'm assuming this thread refers to Ribes alpinum.
Well, I don't know for certain, of course. However, I've been racking my brain to think up a list of plant invasives in northern latitudes, and came up with nothing beyond any species that require disturbance (and even those are arguable as to whether they should be considered invasives). Would be interested to know of such a list, and would be interested to hear if Ribes alpinum has ever escaped cultivation in areas like Edmonton where it is marketed as a hedge plant. Funnily enough, in Mississauga, Ontario it is listed as an alternative plant to use instead of an invasive species (PDF), while Evergreen.ca's native plant database lists it as invasive. It appears to have escaped cultivation in (presumably) southern Ontario and Michigan (according to USDA), but those climates are quite different from Ft. St. James.
