We bought a white currant bush from UBC from their mother's day sale 3 years ago. We are training it as a tree. This year, like last year, the tree had a lot of flowers, which is just finishing flowering now. But no sign of any currants. Can anyone tell if it is only a flowering currant or are we doing something wrong, or the tree needs certain supplements, or a companion? Thanks
Hi - thanks for visiting the forums. You're not doing anything wrong with the plant - Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle' (a UBC Plant Introduction) does not bear fruit. The plant is purely ornamental. For other people interested, here's a picture of a flowering branch:
Hi Daniel, I have read a few descriptions where it is stated that this Ribes does produce fruit , although the bush is acquired mainly for the ornamental value. What do you think please about those statements? Are folk just confusing the varieties? thanks Caro
Hi, I'd be interested to see the references, if you could dig them up. Or point me to the publications... There are other white-flowered varieties available, so it is possible there is some confusion. Daniel
Hi Daniel , not read in a publication of a book , it is a website or two where I have read that . Are you still interested in having the URLS? cheers , Caro
Sure, let's see the URLs. Ron - I'm not sure. I recall that my answer a couple years ago was based on asking someone else at the garden about the plant. From the literature I have on hand, no fruit is mentioned, but I'd like to drag up some written reference from the garden's plant introduction archives to double-check. I know I've not observed any fruits on the plants near my residence nor in the garden's collections.
Hi Daniel: I am confused on this one also. I've seen berries before but now I am not sure what I've seen in Oregon is the right plant if yours does not produce any fruit. I was hoping Saratoga Horticultural Foundation would give some more information than they do on their web site. I know they are growing this Currant. Guess I'll have to stop by there and see them the next time I am passing through the area. Below is a URL showing the berries. http://www.paghat.com/berries1a.html This below is from California Flora Nursery: "This selection of flowering currant is from the University of British Columbia Botanic Garden. Flowers in early spring are pure white on long racemes. Foliage is bright green. Compact habit, 6 ft. - 8 ft. tall. Light shade in hot regions with occasional summer water. Berries attract many birds including grosbeak and mockingbirds." Jim
Finally getting back to you re: ribes W. I. Hi Daniel, I thought I would get back here sooner . Here are the Urls I had listed for myself as mentioning this variety "White Icicle " having berries. It really is a beauty in flower ! http://www.paghat.com/whitecurrant.html http://www.paghat.com/berries1a.html http://www.joycreek.com/526-017D4.htm http://www.homeandgardenjournal.com/issues/2002-09-sep/great plant picks.html lumpd in with all ribes: http://www.npr.org/programs/talkingplants/profiles/ribessanguineum.html http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/risa.htm Hope you can settle the issue. Perhaps the berries were just not important with this being of ornamental value , and so it was overlooked in a description? TTFN, Caro (BC)
I was just wondering if this issue had been resolved. Is the lack of fruit related to the presence of a suitable pollinator?
