Missouri Giant Currant
Ribes odoratum 'Missouri Giant'
Black currants are prohibited to DE, ME, NC, NJ, WV, VA, MA, & RI. Permit required for MI
Commonly called the "clove currant" due to the lovely scent of its vivid yellow spring flowers. The Ribes odoratum group are the most ornamental and the sweetest in flavor of all the black currants. It has deliciously clove-scented, yellow flowers early in Spring on a spreading 4-5' bush. It makes a beautiful edible hedge when planted in a row, as the gooseberry-shaped leaves turn brilliant red and yellow in the late summer and fall. The fruit is large for a currant and round; it's also borne singly and not in clusters. It has a nice sweet flavor without the dusky European black currant aftertaste. It makes a milder jam, syrup or raisin than other black currants.
Tolerates higher summer temperatures than European black currants. Choose another Ribes odoratum variety, like Crandall, as a pollination partner to increase the yield from both varieties! Bushes will grow to 4-5’ tall and wide. We offer well-rooted 1-year bushes. Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3 (-40F).
Black currants have outstanding health benefits, including high Vitamin C content, up to 5 times that of oranges by weight. They have twice the potassium of bananas and twice the antioxidants of blueberries. The antioxidants, essential fatty acids and potassium in black currants have anti- inflammatory impact, reducing the effects of arthritis. Its antioxidant action has been shown to help prevent cancer. The strong flavor of Black Currants is highly prized in Europe, even fresh, but most Americans prefer them made into jam, syrup or dried as raisins.
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Note: Grafted on Ribes aureum; recommended to remove suckers.