Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle'

As March comes in like a lion, it is hard to believe that in a couple of weeks Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle' should be covered in pendulous racemes of pure white flowers, long lasting and noticeably earlier than the species.

The genus Ribes (from the Arabic 'ribas' meaning 'acid tasting') comprises around 150 species, including the edible currants and gooseberries. Ribes sanguineum was introduced in 1826 by David Douglas while on a 3 year plant hunting expedition sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society. He sent seedlings from the banks of the Columbia River, Oregon. This cultivar, Ribes sanguineum 'White Icicle' was introduced by the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden in 1986 and holds the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

In the Gardens the shrubs grow behind the Pavilions alongside the Clarkehouse Road railings.