Ribes alpinum ‘Schmidt’

Are you looking for a reliable shrub that offers year-round structure and subtle seasonal interest for your UK garden borders? Consider the Ribes alpinum, commonly known as Alpine Currant, a plant valued for its bushy, compact, and dense habit with upright branching, making it wonderfully manageable.

Throughout the year, this shrub presents fresh green foliage that transitions to dull yellow and greenish hues by autumn, complementing the subtle greenish-yellow flowers that appear in March and April. While female plants may rarely produce small red berries, the dense growth habit provides excellent natural cover for small birds, which is a lovely addition to any garden scheme.

This species thrives best when planted in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, performing well whether situated in full sun or partial shade across exposed or sheltered sites, making it highly versatile for creating informal or cottage garden settings, or for use as a robust hedge or boundary planting.