Northern Red Currant vs Black Hawthorn - TreeTime.ca

Northern Red Currant vs Black Hawthorn

Crataegus douglasii

Ribes triste

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Black Hawthorn
Northern Red Currant

Black Hawthorn is a versatile plant that is native to wetlands and other areas with moist soils, but can also tolerate dry soils. This plant can be grown as a short shrub, or a tree reaching 30 feet tall.

Black Hawthorn is valued for erosion control and attracting pollinators. It also makes an attractive flowering ornamental that can be planted as a specimen or pruned as a hedge. It is commonly used in shelterbelts.

The Northern Red Currant is also known as the Swamp Red currant due to its preference for moist soil. As long as the soil is wet, this shrub can live in any degree of sunlight.

The currant itself is a bright red-purple berry enjoyed by many animals and some people for its sour flavour, similar to garden red currants. The flowers of this shrub are tiny and red or greenish-purple.

Black Hawthorn Quick Facts

Northern Red Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 1a
Height: 8 m (25 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 0.8 m (2.5 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: any
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: none


Foliage: contains thorns
Fall colour: yellow to red
Bark: brown to gray
Flowers: white
Flowers: reddish or greenish purple
Berries: purplish-black pomes
Berries: shiny, sour, bright red
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, ON
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: crataegus columbiana, douglas hawthorn, douglas' thornapple
Other Names: swamp red currant