RED-FLOWERING CURRANT
Copyright © 2006
Joan Gerteis
Red-flowering Currant in its bloom-time is definitely a not-to-be-overlooked piece of work, but its long and arduous journey to this time of colorful flowering splendor is fascinating to watch unfold. And right outside my bedroom window I am fortunate to have an eight foot tall Red-flowering Currant to closely observe.
Plantologists consider Red-flowering Currant early bloomers-and early they are indeed. Some years by the first of January I can see small buds with pink petals protruding-starting to appear on the naked reddish-brown branches. And then begins each year a very halting, stop and go process of floral budding.
I liken it to a plant and weather dialogue! Plant: "It's been feeling warmer. I believe I'll begin sending forth a flower-bud". Weather: "Just stop right there, my impatient plant friend. It's far too early for flowering. I'm sending Camano and environs some cold, more winter-like days". Plant: Ok, I'll halt development-I'll wait a spell". Weather, two weeks later: "Here, currant, are some warm days and nights to whet your appetite". Plant: "Great, I'll try budding again". Weather, eight days later: "It's still winter, stout-hearted shrub. More cold coming your way".
And so it goes for some weeks as we have some warm days in January and February when the shrubs try to send for the flowers, but then cooler days and nights halt the flower production process. This scenario happening repeatedly-often right on into mid March. At times I feel the red flowering ones have no doubt been frost bitten or so severely chilled that their stunning full flowering will be permanently halted.
But each year they persist, and at last their rose-colored blossoms fully reveal themselves. The watching, waiting, and concern are over-striking deep rose-pink aromatic flower clusters cover the five to twelve foot tall native shrub-10-30 individual flowers per pendent cluster: and with the blossoms come the Rufous Hummingbirds. Hence we have two colorfully brilliant presentations together. Five-lobed, maple like leaves will appear along with the flowers or a bit later. All in all a really lovely springtime snapshot.
Early Northwest explorer and botanist, David Douglas, was most impressed with the handsome Red-flowering Currant shrub-immediately recognizing its ornamental value. He was the initial exporter of the plants back to the Old World where they can still be seen flowering in the continent's finest gardens. In fact, Red-flowering Currants' profitable introduction to gardens in Europe is said to have covered the sponsors' expenses of the Douglas two year expedition to our part of the world. But digressing aside, the berries that appear later in the season on the currant shrub are round, blue-black in color, have some hairy items called glandular hairs, and are covered with a white waxy material referred to as bloom. And although they are edible and nutritious, there are few takers today, for they are terrible tasting. Native tribes reportedly did eat them, although not one of their big-time favorites-more of a backup berry when really hungry and nothing tastier available-a starvation-time sustenance foodstuff.
It's a plant relatively easy to propagate from seeds and cuttings, and in my own yard has self-propagated in several additional locations over the past several years. Lucky for me!
Pat Nash
Beach Watcher
Class of '94