Ribes Sanguineum White Icicle
Ribes white icicle a welcome sight in the early Spring garden
Ribes, the common flowering currant is welcome to the positions which they enjoy in our woodland area. White icicle opens its pendulous pure white blooms in mid March and some years a little earlier, continuing to bloom until late April.
Plant in a sunny or partially shaded position, this is a shrub that is not too fussy regarding soil type other than the requirement for it to be free draining. White icicle received the RHS award of garden merit and is quite a vigorous form and will grow to about six feet. We prune ours in mid Summer every year keeping it to a height of four feet.
This is a great hardy shrub for the Aberdeen area which I would highly recommend. After flowering, white icicle often forms black fruits. Although deciduous it would make a really good hedge.
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Ribes King Edward V11 also in the woodland area is positioned at the very top of a steep embankment. This position with the glaring light makes it difficult to view the shrub well.
The red flowers on this one bloom at much the same time as white icicle and of course is just as hardy. King Edward V11 has a more upright habit. I should point out that the recommended time for pruning is said to be just after the flowers have gone over.
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The common pale pink form of Sanguineum was in the woodland area when we came to this house twenty six years ago. A few of them got very woody and brittle, dying off a few years back. One of them I cut back to ground level which gave it a new lease of life and looks set to flourish for a few years yet.
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Every now and then something different in the garden appears unexpectedly. Last week on looking out the kitchen window at about 7am, I saw an unusual form in the garden pond, I use the term garden pond loosely as its not much bigger than a puddle. In spite of this there are many frogs and birds which appreciate it being there. Well anyway the sight in front of me became clear when I put on my glasses. Two Mallard Ducks bobbing about and almost filling the pond with their size. They stayed around for about an hour before finding their escape route.
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
Linnie, I think the ducks were just on a walk about, probably wont see them again.
Oh Alistair, the image of those ducks in your little pond–well clearly it IS a pond. How I wish they would settle there and you might have ducklings later.
The white currant is spectacular. I grow the native Oregon one, likely the common one you have, so early and pretty and adaptable and easily grown from cuttings. Even with our late wintery weather they are starting to bloom.
Yes Eliza, Ribes does like the cooler climate such as ours.
Wow! I had no idea ribes could be that spectacular! Unfortunately it is one of the few plants that pouts where I live… not such a heat and humidity fan.
Its a first Christine, and we have been here for 26yrs.
What a wonderful visit from the Ducks! Does this happen often? I LOVE ducks, but unfortunately living in our high walled society as we do here in SA, ducks are unlikely to ever just waddle into my garden. Suck lovely photographs Alistair, thanks for sharing with us.
Love the ribes sanguinium, havent seen that before either.
And the ducks are nice to have visit!
Yes Rosie, they were strolling around like they owned the place. Welcome sight though.
Andrea, you are so very lucky to be able to grow bougainvillea.
Definitely worth a position in your garden Carolyn.
Yes, it was great to see the Mallards Deb.
Those mallards must have thought they had found their own personal pond! Great photos, and what a fun surprise! The ribes sanguinium is very beautiful. I haven’t seen one here.
Hi Alistair, i am always thrilled to see different plants in your posts, which of course i haven’t seen yet in person. As i said in my post, i used temperate flowers of Sweden and Strasbourg to post because i am already bored with our own, haha! That white and pink forms are so beautiful. We don’t have many plants which mostly show flowers without leaves, except for bougainvillea during the dry season and the Mussaenda.
I have no Ribes in my garden, and I am wondering how I missed this wonderful shrub. I had to stop in the middle of your post and do a Google search to see if ‘White Icicle’ is hardy here, which apparently it is. I am on a mission.
Your white Ribes looks so impressive – mine died and I know exactly why as the ground was too wet……….I’ve even killed the common red type in my garden – drainage is so important with these shrubs.
I had to laugh when I saw your pond visitors only they don’t half leave a mess in the water – just watch you don’t have the back door open as they’ll be in the house next………..I speak from experience!
Aw Jane, what a spoil sport, I wasn’t going to let on. Well to be quite honest I forgot, are you sure it doesn’t smell a bit like cat pee.
I ‘accidently’ inhaled our white ribe yesterday (long story, won’t bore you!) and it didn’t smell to sweet I tell yer…more the scent of week old socks. I guess such a cracker has to have a downside. How lovely to have ducks appear in your garden too.
Have a groovy week x
Wellywoman, the Ribes are often seen as a common plant, white icicle is rather special though.
Loving the ribes, I had planned to get one last year but the man at the plant nursery wasn’t very enthusiastic about it and I ended up with a hydrangea instead. Looking at your photos I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t stick to my guns. Loving the picture of the ducks. Just put a small pond in my own garden. Would love to see that in my own garden.
I think it is the best of all the Ribes Crystal
They had the appearance of tourists Donna.
Spurge, the flowers of the white Ribes do seem to be larger than others.
Lovely Ribes…our wild ones don’t quite resemble the beauty of yours…I usually have a pair of mallards visit yearly in the pond and garden…my small pond won’t do for nesting but they like to take a travel break….so cute those 2 in your garden.
I’ve never seen a white Ribes before, another one for my wish list. I agree with b-a-g, those ducks will be back.
They are indeed a handsome looking couple Holley. I don’t think they will hang around as the river is nearby.
Gorgeous flowers. How fun to have ducks find your pond! I wonder if they’ll stay and have a family there. They’re a nice looking couple.
That ribes is splendid! I have seen other ribes before, but not any with pendulous flower panicles like that. Just lovely.
Hello Lona, although each flower on the Ribes is smaller there is a similarity to the Wisteria. Maybe we should start calling it the poor mans Wisteria. Yes maybe they did think the plastic thing was one of its ducklings.
Hi Alistair. I have never seen a Ribes Sanguinium before. I love the white blooms that reminds me of wisteria bloom. It is just lovely. Great shots of your visitors. They might have came in to check out the yellow duck. LOL! Have a wonderful weekend.
Yes b-a-g the white ribes was given room to grow, something which I don’t always give enough consideration to.
The flowers remind me of wisteria – the white is striking, lighting up the corner. The plant seems better behaved though in that it’s not strangling everything in its reach.
I bet those ducks will be back, they probably just went away to tell the others.