alpinum - Alpine Currant () ------ is known as a common formal or Twigs informal hedge, with bright green spring foliage and -fairly stout, slightly ridged to striated, and stout, stiff stems, usually pruned to about 3' tall as a exfoliating lightly on older stems linear hedge. Alpine Currant is also found in low- -light gray-brown to bright tan stems, with maintenance group plantings where coverage without prominent, alternate, lime-green, relatively large ornamental appeal, basically no , , terminal and lateral in late summer that change autumn color, or winter interest, is desired or to light tan buds in winter accepted. Trunk -not applicable FEATURES Form USAGE -medium-sized foliage Function -informal or formal hedge, or in group or mass -maturing at about 5' tall x plantings (where tough with dependable, 7' wide (if left unpruned) season-long, dense foliage are desired [without -upright oval growth habit showy flowers, fruits, or autumn color, in sun or in youth, becoming shade situations]) spreading with age Texture -medium growth rate -medium texture in foliage and when bare Culture -thick density in foliage and when bare -full sun to full shade Assets -performs best in full sun in moist, well-drained soils, -bright green foliage in spring transitions to medium but is very adaptable to dry soils, compacted soils, or dark green glossy summer foliage drought, shade, soils of various pH, and heavy -foliages all the way to the ground as a hedge shearing or pruning (virtually unique among hedges, due to its -propagated by rooted stem cuttings shade tolerance) -Saxifrage , with anthracnose and spot -responds well to heavy pruning or shearing being the primary cosmetic diseases that may occur -urban stress tolerant during very wet periods of spring or summer; other -very cold hardy diseases and pests may occur but they are relatively Liabilities minor -has little ornamental appeal (insignificant flowers, -commonly available, primarily in container form but no fruits, and poor autumn color) other than its dense also in B&B form green foliage Foliage -occasional cosmetic diseases may render the foliage -medium to dark green, unattractive alternate, ovate, shallowly Habitat trilobed, with margins that -Zones 2 to 7 are doubly serrated, dentate, -Native to or crenate -spring foliage emerges early SELECTIONS and is bright green, changes Alternates to medium or dark green in -nondescript deciduous shrubs used as hedges, in summer with an attractive group plantings, or as green globes (Ligustrum gloss on the leaf uppersides, obtusifolium, Lonicera xylosteum, Viburnum opulus while autumn color is dark 'Nanum', etc.) green to yellowish green and -hedges for shady situations that do not become leggy ornamentally poor (Buxus, Taxus x media, etc.) Flowers -Ribes alpinum is a better deciduous alternative to -dioecious (rarely perfect), green-yellow, flowering Border Privet or European Fly Honeysuckle as a in Apr., and noticeable but ornamentally insignificant formal or informal hedge in cold winter climates, in -female form is generally not sold (males are either sunny or shady situations, due to its more supposedly resistant to diseases, while females vigorous growth and its shade tolerance that allows it are alternate hosts; therefore, males are exclusively to maintain foliage to the ground. propagated for landscape situations, since disease – Variants – Related species dispersal by females would severely impact -the straight species (male form) has traditionally agricultural grain crops) been the primary form available, but increasingly the Fruits following is becoming widespread: -scarlet juicy occur in mid-summer, on female Ribes alpinum 'Green Mound' - a dwarf and even or plants having a few perfect flowers (but more dense male form, to 3' x 3', with greater generally not applicable, as only males are resistance to foliage diseases propagated and sold) -other members of this are important as agricultural small fruits crops (the Currants and )