Ribes nigrum 'Ebony' (Blackcurrant 'Ebony')

Botanical name

Ribes nigrum 'Ebony'

Other names

Blackcurrant 'Ebony'

Genus

Ribes Ribes

Variety or Cultivar

'Ebony' _ 'Ebony' is a vigorous, open, somewhat spreading, deciduous shrub with lobed, mid-green leaves and clusters of insignificant, yellow-green flowers in mid- to late spring followed by large, firm, glossy, black, edible fruit ready for harvest in midsummer.

Foliage

Deciduous

Fragrance

Foliage is aromatic.

Habit

Open stems, Spreading, Upright

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Colour

Flower

Yellow-green, Insignificant or absent in Spring

Foliage

Mid-green in Spring

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Aphids

Specific diseases

Leaf spot

General care

Pruning

Prune when dormant in late autumn to late winter. Fruit forms on young wood. Prune to remove older wood.

Propagation methods

Hardwood cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Ribes nigrum 'Ebony' (Blackcurrant 'Ebony') will reach a height of 1.2m and a spread of 1.2m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Hedging/Screens

Cultivation

Grow as a multi-stemmed or stooled shrub. Best in a sheltered, sunny site. Tolerates most soils, including slightly alkaline conditions. Mulch with compost or well-rotted manure. This cultivar is resistant to mildew.

Soil type

Clay, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Ribes nigrum 'Ebony' (Blackcurrant 'Ebony')

Common pest name

Japanese fruit scale; Mulberry scale; White peach scale

Scientific pest name

Pseudaulacaspis pentagona

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Scale insect which in favourable conditions may kill trees. There have been a number of findings in the UK but some uncertainty about whether the pest is established. Stakeholder organisations may wish to monitory for its presence.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Ribes nigrum 'Ebony' (Blackcurrant 'Ebony')

Common pest name

Latent ringspot of strawberry

Scientific pest name

Strawberry latent ringspot virus

Type

Virus or Viroid

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

1

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Present in the UK; risk of spread is effectively mitigated by current regulation and industry certification scheme. To be considered as part of EFSA Annex IIAII review.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Ribes nigrum 'Ebony' (Blackcurrant 'Ebony')

Common pest name

Cherry rasp leaf (in part) (European); Gooseberry leaf distortion; Lloyd George raspberry yellow blotch disease; Pfeffinger disease of cherry; Redcurrant ringspot; Ringspot diseases of raspberry; strawberry and flowering currant; RRSV; Spoon leaf of redcurrant (Netherlands)

Scientific pest name

Raspberry ringspot virus

Type

Virus or Viroid

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

1

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Pest present in the UK; risk of spread is mitigated by industry certification scheme.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/