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Native Plants

Flowering currant

Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle'

White Icicle flowering currant brings hanging clusters of white flowers to spring gardens, followed by blue-black fruit and deciduous foliage. This upright, multistemmed native shrub generally reaches about 6 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, giving it a substantial presence in a border. Allow several feet for its spread. Its flowers can feed hummingbirds and pollinators, while birds may use the fruit. Plant it along a woodland edge, in an informal hedge, or in a wildlife border. Full sun gives the strongest flowering, though partial shade also works. Provide well-drained soil; established plants tolerate summer dryness.

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At a glance

Mature height
About 6–8 ft
Mature spread
About 4–6 ft
Light
Full sun to partial shade
Hardiness
USDA Zone 6

The right plant, the right place

Make room for something good.

White spring flowers suit a woodland edge, informal hedge, or wildlife border. The clusters can feed hummingbirds and pollinators, and birds may use the fruit.

Where to plant

Choose full sun for the strongest flowering, or partial shade where that better suits the site. Leave several feet for its mature spread.

Through the seasons

White flower clusters appear in spring, followed by blue-black fruit. The shrub loses its leaves for winter.

Southwest Washington gardens

Give it a good start.

This flowering currant selection suits Southwest Washington’s temperate gardens. Its established tolerance of summer dryness makes it useful in a well-drained native planting.

Soil, drainage & water

Plant in well-drained soil. Once established, it tolerates summer dryness; a heavily irrigated bed may be a poor fit for that use.

A little care goes a long way

Growing well, season after season.

Shape after flowering if needed. For renewal, remove older stems selectively.

Know what to look for

Common growing concerns.

Symptoms can have more than one cause. These notes are a starting point for observing your plant and improving its growing conditions.

Currant aphids

Curled leaves, distorted new growth, honeydew, or sooty mold.

Help your plant thrive

Check new growth for aphids and conserve their predators. Consult regional management guidance if populations build.

Powdery mildew

White powdery growth on leaves or shoots.

Help your plant thrive

Leave space around stems for airflow and check affected growth if symptoms spread.

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for your place.

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