Prickly currant Plant Care

Prickly currant (Ribes aciculare) belongs to the Grossulariaceae family within the Ribes genus. Prickly currant is native to central and northern Asia, and has been reported as native to Altay, Kazakhstan, Krasnoyarsk, Mongolia, Tuva, West Siberia, Xinjiang. Prickly currant is also known as gooseberry currant.

Prickly currant displays an upright, spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Prickly currant produces small clusters of greenish to reddish flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Prickly currant every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Prickly currant thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Ribes aciculare tolerates temperatures of 20–90°F. Prickly currant prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Prickly currant to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Prickly currant every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Prickly currant is suited to USDA Zone 2a – 6b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Prickly currant can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Prickly currant while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Prickly currant is hardy down to USDA zone 2a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Prickly currant can be propagated through softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings, layering. Similar propagation techniques also apply to mapleleaf currant plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Prickly currant is susceptible to aphids, currant borer, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Prickly currant grows outdoors in USDA Zone 2a – 6b. It survives winters down to planting zone 2a. Prickly currant is native to central and northern Asia, and has been reported as native to Altay, Kazakhstan, Krasnoyarsk, Mongolia, Tuva, West Siberia, Xinjiang.