Black Currant

Ribes nigrum ‘Ben Nevis’

‘Ribes Nigrum Ben Nevis’ is a black currant. The black currant bush grows around 100 to 150 cm tall, therefore also suitable for the smaller fruit garden. Around mid-May, this shrub starts flowering with inconspicuous white-pink flowers and is then attractive to pollinating insects. After flowering, black, shiny berries develop in the bush in large clusters. The shrub needs direct sunlight for optimum yield and sweeter berries. The berries of this shrub can be picked from June onwards. The fruit can be eaten fresh, but processing into jam or juice is even tastier. The fruit is best known for the Cassis drink. It is among the healthiest berries with its high vitamin C content. You can prune the bush between February and March, removing only the dead branches. The less you prune, the more chance there will be of berries. It is easy to maintain and has fruit in the bush after only 1 year. The shrub loses its leaves in winter, but it can withstand temperatures down to -34 degrees Celsius without a problem.