Description
Consort was bred at Ottawa in the 1950s with one goal: a black currant immune to white pine blister rust. Crossing the cultivated black currant with the Siberian species Ribes ussuriense brought in the gene that does it, and Consort and its siblings were confirmed immune in both laboratory and field testing.
The berries are medium sized and flavorful, in the hanging clusters that make currants quick to harvest, and they were traditionally used for the prized preserves that black currants are known for. Like all black currants they are very high in vitamin C. It also makes a dense, productive fruiting hedge, which is a useful thing to be able to do with a crop: a boundary that pays you back every July.
Overview
- Immune to white pine blister rust, by deliberate breeding.
- Medium, flavorful berries in good clusters.
- Makes a dense, productive fruiting hedge.
- Very high in vitamin C, and easy to grow.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Ribes nigrum x ussuriense ‘Consort’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; rich, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 3
Rootstock: Grown from cuttings
Bearing Age: Light crop the year after planting; full crops by the third or fourth year
Size at Maturity: Upright and compact, about 3 to 5 ft tall and wide
Ripening Time: Mid season; July into August
Pollination: Self-fertile; one bush sets a full crop, and a second currant nearby increases berry size
Pests & Diseases: Immune to white pine blister rust
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Planted 3 ft apart, black currants knit into a hedge in about three seasons and crop the whole length of it.
- Regional Insight: Currants are cool-climate fruit, at their best where summers stay moderate and winters are properly cold.
- Explore more berries in our collection: Berries
