How do you recognise Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)?

Leaf

Anny Raim, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0

Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum L.

Also known as: Black currant

Family: Grossulariaceae

1 to 1.5 m tall

Moist hedgerows, often cultivated

Flowering: April – May

Full sun

Part shade

Very hardy, to -25°C

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

Very distinctive, strong smell when the leaves are crushed, immediately recognisable. Redcurrant has spineless twigs like blackcurrant, but its bright red fruits in pendulous clusters clearly distinguish it; blackcurrant leaves are recognised by the characteristic resinous smell they give off when crushed.

🍃 Leaves

Palmate, 3 to 5 lobes, very aromatic and fragrant when crushed

🌸 Flowers

Small greenish bells tinged with pink

🍎 Fruits

Black berries in clusters, highly aromatic

🪵 Bark

Brownish-grey, without spines

🗺️ Distribution

Europe, Asia; cultivated throughout France, sometimes subspontaneous on moist woodland edges.

🐝 Value for pollinators

Inconspicuous but nectar-rich flowers, visited by bees in spring.

✂️ Horticultural uses

Grown in the fruit and vegetable garden for its berries rich in vitamin C.

⚠️ Possible toxicity

No known toxicity; fruits edible, aromatic leaves used in herbal tea.

⚠️ Look-alike species

Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum

Redcurrant

Ribes rubrum

Redcurrant has spineless twigs like blackcurrant, but its bright red fruits in pendulous clusters clearly distinguish it; blackcurrant leaves are recognised by the characteristic resinous smell they give off when crushed.

Blackcurrant

Ribes nigrum

Flowering currant

Ribes sanguineum

Blackcurrant has inconspicuous greenish bells and very fragrant black berries prized in cooking, whereas flowering currant has bright pink to red flowers clearly visible in April and small bland blue-black berries, of no culinary interest despite a similar aromatic palmate foliage.

🌿 Other Grossulariaceae to discover

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

🌱 This database is constantly evolving — species and information are added and corrected regularly. Spotted a mistake? Report it below.