Flowering Currant 'King Edward' (Ribes sanguineum) - flowering shrub - 17 cm pot - Height 45 cm

Yes, the 'King Edward' flowering gooseberry (Ribes sanguineum) is a fully hardy shrub that easily withstands the winters of most regions in France. It can tolerate temperatures down to -15°C, or even -20°C in well-drained conditions. When planted in the ground, no winter protection is required: the shrub loses its leaves in autumn and enters natural dormancy. In a pot, a light mulch on the growing medium during severe cold spells is sufficient to protect the roots from deep frost.

The flowering gooseberry 'King Edward' is o'ne of the earliest shrubs in the garden: its flowering bursts into life from late March and continues through April, sometimes even before the foliage has fully opened. It produces beautiful drooping clusters of bright pink to carmine pink flowers, lightly scented, which 'stand out as a true spring decoration. This early flowering makes it a very valuable shrub for brightening up the garden at a time when few 'other plants are still in bloom. The clusters immediately attract bees and bumblebees from the first flights of the season.

The golden r'ule for the King Edward gooseberry 'King Edward' is to prune just after flowering, i'e.g. in April or May depending on the region. At this time, the flowers have faded but the new shoots h'ave not yet started their summer growth. We remove the oldest and most woody branches at the base, which stimulates the 'production of vigorous young shoots that will bear the flowers of n'ext year. You must never prune in autumn or winter, because the flower buds are already formed on the wood of t'he year: late pruning would remove all the spring blossom.

The 'King Edward' flowering gooseberry (Ribes sanguineum) is a sun-loving shrub that produces its best flowers in a south or southwest-facing position, sheltered from cold northerly winds. It can be used as a specimen shrub in a border, in a loose flowering hedge or along the edge of a bed. Its compact, tidy habit also allows it to thrive in a large pot on a sunny terrace. Planted with forsythias or chaenomeles, it creates very colourful spring displays. Its ability to attract pollinators makes it a sensible choice for natural gardens or companion planting in vegetable gardens.

The ' King Edward' gooseberry bush is very adaptable to different soil types, provided they are well-drained. It grows in clay-loam, sandy, or even calcareous soils, as long as 'they do not retain 'moisture in winter, which could cause root problems. A slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal, but it easily tolerates slightly alkaline substrates. At planting, incorporate a generous amount of compost or multipurpose potting mix to help the plant establish.

Yes, the 'King Edward'currant bush is a remarkably nectar-rich plant thanks to its very early flowering, which occurs at a time when nectar resources are still scarce in the garden. Its clusters of pink flowers are visited in large numbers by honeybees, bumblebees and various species of wild pollinators from the first warm days of March-April. I't is a considerable asset for gardeners keen to support local biodiversity and promote the pollination of neighbouring fruit trees.

The 'King Edward' flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a compact cultivar compared to the botanical species, which can reach 2 to 3 metres. At maturity, it forms a well-branched shrub 1 to 1.5 metres high and wide, depending on growing conditions and soil fertility. Its growth is moderate, with it gaining about 20 to 30 cm per year in favourable conditions. This moderate size makes it highly versatile: it does not overgrow borders, fits easily into small gardens, and maintains a neat shape without the need for repeated severe pruning.