Currant
(February 2012)
I realize that our climate is warm for the growing of currants but I would love to
have some and wonder if you know how they have fared in our state. I am right between
zone 7 and 8 in El Dorado.
Currants are in the Ribes genus. The common edible red currants, really don’t thrive in the heat of Arkansas
summers. However, the clove currant or Ribes odoratum does pretty well in our gardens and has fragrant yellow flowers in the spring, followed
by small black edible fruits in the summer. While not a prolific berry producer, and
a bit gangly with age, it can give you some fruit. As far south as you are in El
Dorado, it would be a challenge to grow the more common edible currants.
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