Northern Red Currant vs Redwing Highbush Cranberry - TreeTime.ca

Northern Red Currant vs Redwing Highbush Cranberry

Ribes triste

Viburnum trilobum JN Select

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Northern Red Currant
Redwing Highbush Cranberry

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.

The Redwing Highbush Cranberry is a dense multi-stemmed shrub that blooms with white pinwheel shaped flowers in spring. It produces small, red, and edible berries in late summer. Its leaves are green, but the tips become more saturated with red throughout the season, and then turn a stunning crimson colour in the fall.

The Redwing Highbush Cranberry makes a good addition to any urban garden or hedge, and its berries are commonly used to liven up preserves with their tart flavor.

Northern Red Currant Quick Facts

Redwing Highbush Cranberry Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.8 m (2.5 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: low


Foliage: red tips on leaves
Fall colour: red/orange
Flowers: reddish or greenish purple
Flowers: white, pinwheel shaped
Berries: shiny, sour, bright red
Berries: small, red
Flavor: sour
Harvest: late August-February
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: swamp red currant