Rose Glow Barberry vs Bristly Black Currant - TreeTime.ca

Rose Glow Barberry vs Bristly Black Currant

Berberis thunbergii Rose Glow

Ribes lacustre

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Rose Glow Barberry
Bristly Black Currant

Rose Glow Barberry is a cold hardy, drought tolerant shrub. It has attractive, mottled foliage that ranges from red, pink, green, and white, maturing to deep maroon.

Rose Glow Barberry has sharp thorns, so be careful when you're handling this shrub. These thorns are what make Rose Glow Barberry an excellent hedge plant as they deter rabbit and deer.

Bristly Black Currant is a native deciduous shrub that grows in moist forests, swamps, and riparian areas. In summer, it produces clusters of dark purple to black berries that provide food for wildlife, while its reddish-purple flowers attract pollinators. The berries are technically edible and enjoyed by some, but many find them unpleasant and bitter.

Thriving in moist soils and shaded locations, Bristly Black Currant helps stabilize soil and supports diverse habitats. It is valuable for conservation plantings, wetland restoration, riparian buffers, and naturalization projects.

Note: When crushed, the berries are known to release an offensive odour.

Rose Glow Barberry Quick Facts

Bristly Black Currant Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to spreading, thicket-forming
Spreading: seeds - medium, layering - low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: prickles may cause an allergic reaction
Bark: reddish brown with prickles
Flowers: pink/purple flower
Flowers: small maroon-green clusters
Bloom time: spring to early summer
Berries: dark purple with hairs, edible
Flavor: tart, unpleasant
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, PE
Other Names: black gooseberry, black swamp gooseberry, bristly black gooseberry, bristly currant, bristly swamp currant, prickly currant