Practical
Plants

Ribes laurifolium

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ribes
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
1 m
Spread
1.5 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[7][8]. A blackcurrant[9]. The purple fruit can be up to 20mm long and 10mm wide[11]. It can be hairy (in subspecies laurifolium ) or smooth (subspecies yunnanense )[11].

Plant part
Fruit

Environment

Range
E. Asia - W. China.
Habitat
Often found climbing into trees in forests, on slopes, river banks and rocks at elevations of 2100 - 3600 metres[11].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 months cold stratification at between 0 and 5°c and should be sown as early in the year as possible[2][4]. Under normal storage conditions the seed can remain viable for 17 years or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 10 - 15cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[12][2]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel of the previous year's growth, November to February in a cold frame or sheltered bed outdoors[12][8].

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moisture retentive but well-drained loamy soil of at least moderate quality[1][8]. Plants are quite tolerant of shade though do not fruit so well in such a position[1]. Hardy to about -15°c[6] if given shelter from cold drying winds[8]. Plants are of slow to moderate growth[9]. They can be slow to establish, often taking a year or two to settle down when planted out[9]. The flowers emit a soft sweet perfume[10]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed is required[5]. Plants can harbour a stage of 'white pine blister rust', so they should not be grown in the vicinity of pine trees[3]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[8].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2

  3. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩

  5. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  7. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  9. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  11. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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