Alpine Current is a dense, rounded deciduous shrub in the gooseberry family. It is native to mountainous areas of northern and central Europe and is extremely winter hardy. The shrub has separate male and female plants with only the female bearing fruit. Most shrubs sold commercially are male as they are less susceptible to rust diseases. Grow this plant in full sun to deep shade in average moist well-drained alkaline soils. It is tolerant of rocky and clay soils and is somewhat drought tolerant once established. The shrub reaches 5-6 feet tall and wide with non-showy flowers and attractive bright green lobed leaves. The round red fruits are on fertilized female shrubs only and are not edible. The leaves of this shrub reach the ground making it great as informal hedge,as a foundation plant, or used in a shrub border.. It withstands both heavy pruning and shearing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : Aphids, current bud mite, and scales are occasional pests. In humid, wet climates leaf spots, rust, and anthracnose can be a problem. Female plants are an alternative host for white pine blister rust. All Ribes are prohibited in North Carolina at this time. SECTION .0400 -WHITE PINE BLISTER RUST02 NCAC 48A .0401CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRY PLANTS (a) All wild and cultivated currant and gooseberry plants in North Carolina are hereby declared to be dangerous plants and are consequently subject to destruction by the Commissioner of Agriculture or authorized agents wherever found.(b) No person shall knowingly and willfully keep upon his premises any currant or gooseberry plant, or permit such plants to mature seed or otherwise multiply upon his land. History Note: Authority G.S. 106-65.45; 106-65.46; 106-284.18; 106-420; Eff. January 1, 1985.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Oval; Rounded
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3-5 lobed bright green leaves 1"-2" long turn deeper green and glossy as they age before turning a non-showy yellow color in the fall.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Insignificant
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small greenish-yellow flowers appear on separate male and female plants. Most plants sold are male.
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
Non-edible round red fruits on female plants are enjoyed by birds.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
The bark is initially smooth and light grey, becoming brownish grey and may peel with age.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Northern and central Europe, Russia
Wildlife value
Butterflies are attracted to the flowers and birds relish the fruits.