Ornamental Cuurant

[Kayleigh]

I have just noticed an Ornamental Currant (Ribes) It has pink flowers. Doe's anyone know what insects and birds if any, are attracted to this. We have lived here for 14 years and I have never seen it before. Maybe the birds planted it.

[aeshna5]

Sounds like Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum, which is a popular garden shrub which sometimes gets naturalised. I think I've seen bees visit the flowers, but otherwise I don't think it has great wildlife interest- the aromatic leaves probably act as a repellent to would be munchers. Still it's an attractive plant that doesn't take up too much space. Just enjoy!

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I have just noticed an Ornamental Currant (Ribes) It has pink flowers. Doe's anyone know what insects and birds if any, are attracted to this. We have lived here for 14 years and I have never seen it before. Maybe the birds planted it.

'Honey bees have also been seen on ornamental currant' bees
This is all that I can find, sorry it's no more specific but I would imagine you would get quite a wide variety of 'flying things' onsomething like that Let us know!

[Susie]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Sounds like Flowering Currant, Ribes sanguineum, which is a popular garden shrub which sometimes gets naturalised. I think I've seen bees visit the flowers, but otherwise I don't think it has great wildlife interest- the aromatic leaves probably act as a repellent to would be munchers. Still it's an attractive plant that doesn't take up too much space. Just enjoy!

Aromatic leaves .. hmmm ... not quite how I would put it. The plant stinks of cat pee! Ewwww.


Looks pretty though.

[Tursiops2]

Flowering currant is a good plant. It has value in a wildlife-friendly garden - it's an early bloomer, so it's good for early bees; and it's one of the few good bee shrubs that will tolerate a degree of shade, so it's good for an awkward spot. Is yours in a shady out-of the-way spot, Kayleigh? Perhaps that's why you've only just noticed it.
T2

[goosey]

It says on my English Nature List for Plants for wildlife friendly gardening, that Ribes Sanguinium(and others) attract bees, insects, birds, butterflies and caterpillars. I bought two last year (King Edward vii), one for a sunny and one for a shady area and they both died the same year, these had pink flowers. I also bought a Ribes Nigrum which survived but didn't flower last year, but comma butterflies were often seen on the leaves, and in the last few weeks I've seen small brown caterpillars on the bare twigs. I bought these specifically for the birds to be able to eat the currants, but they are still waiting!
Ribes Odoratum (buffalo currant) is also wildlife friendly but I have had no expeience to pass on.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by goosey

It says on my English Nature List for Plants for wildlife friendly gardening, that Ribes Sanguinium(and others) attract bees, insects, birds, butterflies and caterpillars. I bought two last year (King Edward vii), one for a sunny and one for a shady area and they both died the same year, these had pink flowers. I also bought a Ribes Nigrum which survived but didn't flower last year, but comma butterflies were often seen on the leaves, and in the last few weeks I've seen small brown caterpillars on the bare twigs. I bought these specifically for the birds to be able to eat the currants, but they are still waiting!
Ribes Odoratum (buffalo currant) is also wildlife friendly but I have had no expeience to pass on.

I'm surprised it said they were good for butterflies + birds as I wouldn't have thought the flower structure is suitable for nectaring butterflies (I've never seen one use it + I've grown it) + isn't a larval foodplant- your Commas were using the plant for basking + almost any plant with suitable leaves would serve as a sunning platform. Agree it's good for bees. I've never noticed fruits on this plant though other Ribes have conspicuous fruits which songbirds relish.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

I'm surprised it said they were good for butterflies + birds as I wouldn't have thought the flower structure is suitable for nectaring butterflies (I've never seen one use it + I've grown it) + isn't a larval foodplant- your Commas were using the plant for basking + almost any plant with suitable leaves would serve as a sunning platform. Agree it's good for bees. I've never noticed fruits on this plant though other Ribes have conspicuous fruits which songbirds relish.

The commas were on the Ribes Nigrum and were basking.
I applied for the list in 2005 with over 220 wildlife friendly plants on. It lists the genus,species, variety, common name, what it attracts and flowering time + colour in table form. I double checked to make sure I hadn't misread it and it is there in black + white. I am no expert and only repeated what I read.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Flowering currant is a good plant. It has value in a wildlife-friendly garden - it's an early bloomer, so it's good for early bees; and it's one of the few good bee shrubs that will tolerate a degree of shade, so it's good for an awkward spot. Is yours in a shady out-of the-way spot, Kayleigh? Perhaps that's why you've only just noticed it.
T2

Yes! its tucked away at the back of the fence behind a Mock orange and a budlier. I did some pruning last summer and must have encouraged it into flower. Or the birds planted it. I will keep my eyes open to what I get on it. If its only good for bees I will be happy. It is nice to see flowers this time of year.

[nightshade]

There are several Flowering currant varieties,they can flower early
and are a great draw for bees of all types and many other insects
which in turn bring birds etc.A good addition to any garden

[UB4 gardener]

Speaking of currants,
i think i have a red currant in my new garden in Dorset, and when i gave it a good pruning i noticed holes through the stems. I'm hoping its feeding signs of currant clearwing moth and i'm hoping when i pruned it i didn't wipe them out

[thunder]

Flowering Currant can be hugely important for Bumble Bees. The often need this early nectar source.

thunder

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by UB4 gardener

Speaking of currants,
i think i have a red currant in my new garden in Dorset, and when i gave it a good pruning i noticed holes through the stems. I'm hoping its feeding signs of currant clearwing moth and i'm hoping when i pruned it i didn't wipe them out

Are you basing your ID on the fruit? If you are, be aware that Guelder Rose can be mistaken for Redcurrant when it's fruiting. I don't know if the berries are poisonous, but they certainly don't taste nice, as a friend found out when he made that mistake a few years ago. You should have seen the look on his face!

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by goosey

I applied for the list in 2005 with over 220 wildlife friendly plants on. It lists the genus,species, variety, common name, what it attracts and flowering time + colour in table form.

That sounds extremely useful, goosey. Where can I get one?

T2

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Yes! its tucked away at the back of the fence behind a Mock orange and a budlier. I did some pruning last summer and must have encouraged it into flower. Or the birds planted it. I will keep my eyes open to what I get on it. If its only good for bees I will be happy. It is nice to see flowers this time of year.

It sounds like a previous owner of your garden made a sensible planting decision, Kayleigh. You're probably right about the pruning, they do enjoy a good haircut from time to time.

T2

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

That sounds extremely useful, goosey. Where can I get one?

T2

Hi Turisops, sorry I didn't get back to you earlier but I have only just noticed your question.

I got the leaflet a few years back from English Nature , now it is called Natural England.
I ordered a free booklet called "wild life friendly gardening - a general guide and the list came with it.'

The link underneath, takes you to a page with the booklet and lots of other useful ones they produce and they can be down loaded, or looked at page by page in the window.

English Nature - Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

[Tursiops2]

Excellent link goosey. Thankyou.
T2