Ribes sanguineum King Edward VII - Flowering Currant

Ribes sanguineum 'King Edward VII', also known as Flowering Currant or False-Cassis, is a bushy shrub with early spring flowering in bright pink to red, fragrant flowers, followed by a blackish-blue fruiting in summer. It is a highly floriferous plant. The flower clusters measure 8 cm (3.1 in) long and emit, along with the light green foliage, a sweet aroma of blackcurrant, hence its name "False-Cassis".

'King Edward VII' is a cultivar derived from Ribes sanguineum and belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. It is native to the western United States and is a very robust shrub. It is found particularly on rocky and wooded slopes from southern California to the northwest of the United States. It will reach a height of 2 m to 3 m (6.6 ft to 9.8 ft) and spread of 1 m to 1.5 m (3.3 ft to 4.9 ft), with rapid growth.

'King Edward VII' is a deciduous shrub with an erect, bushy and rounded growth habit. In March-April, with the emergence of leaves, pendulous clusters of small bright pink to red flowers appear, highlighted by a white eye, measuring about 8 cm (3.1 in). This fragrant flowering, so welcome in the early days of spring, accompanies and follows that of the classic Forsythia. The flowers are followed in August by small globose fruits that are bluish-black with a powdery sheen, which birds love. The light green leaves, 5 cm to 10 cm (2 in to 3.9 in) long, have five shallow irregularly toothed lobes and emit a delicious blackcurrant scent.


Plant 'King Edward VII' in ordinary, deep, even chalky, rich and moist soil. This shrub will thrive in partial shade or full sun, but in a non-burning exposure. Pruning is not necessary, except to remove dead wood or correct a slightly sparse habit. The branches should be pruned back by one-third after flowering. At planting, it is advisable to bury part of the collar to promote good rooting.

This flowering currant will suit all gardens, in a free hedge, shrub borders, or even as a standalone plant. It also looks beautiful when grown in a container. You can create a stunning spring scene by planting it with Forsythia, Japanese quince, Exochorda (Exochorda racemosa), flowering plum, Chinese almond, or Japanese apricot. Planted in mixed groups of three or four, flowering currants create an effect that stands out, especially at the back of perennial borders. Finally, to fully enjoy its flowers and fragrance, you can cut budding branches that will bloom in the house.