Ribes sanguineum Oregon Snowflake

Ribes sanguineum 'Oregon Snowflake' is a variety of flowering currant bush that will charm with its small size and generous white flowering. Its palmate, finely incised and toothed foliage further enhances the elegance of this small bush. It blooms for several weeks in spring, and its fluffy flower clusters attract many pollinators. The foliage gives off a sweet blackcurrant aroma, which earned it its other name "False Blackcurrant". Place it in a beautiful pot on your balcony or in a small flowering hedge, mixed with other flowering shrubs.

The 'Oregon Snowflake' Flowering Currant, recently bred in the United States at Oregon State University, is a cultivar derived from Ribes sanguineum. It belongs to the Grossulariaceae family. The western United States is the birthplace of this particularly robust shrub species. In nature, it is found mainly on rocky and wooded slopes from southern California to the northwest United States. 'Oregon Snowflake', much more compact than the species, will reach about 1.20 m in height and spread 1.30 m in 7 years. Its flowers are white.
It has a bushy, compact growth habit. Its leaves are small (4 cm), divided into 5 to 7 intensely and finely toothed lobes. They have prominent veins and are light green  They emit a blackcurrant scent when crushed. In April-May, after the leaves have emerged, clusters of pendant flowers measuring about 6 cm long appear along the branches. They are very numerous and composed of small pure white flowers. This nectar-rich, slightly fragrant flowering follows that of the Forsythia. This deciduous shrub's branches are leafless in winter.

Ribes sanguineum 'Oregon Snowflake' fits into any garden, even the smallest. It can be planted in a low hedge or a shrub border. Its charm is just as effective when grown in a container. In addition to its classic but charming association with Forsythias, you can also place it in a spring scene with Japanese quince trees, abelias, or even a plum tree with bush roses. Planted in groups of three or four mixed together, flowering currant bushes create an interesting effect at the back of perennial borders. Finally, to fully enjoy its flowers, you can cut flowering branches for your bouquets.