Blackcurrant
Ribes nigrum
Botanical family: Grossulariaceae
Ribes nigrum, the black berry emblematic of Burgundy (Crème de cassis, kir). Varieties: Noir de Bourgogne (the classic for the liqueur), Andega (yield), Tinker (late production). Rich in vitamin C (approx. 180 mg/100 g, 3-4× the orange), anthocyanins. Dried leaves in an infusion. Sources: Ciqual table (ANSES) for the fruit figures; EMA/HMPC, Ribes nigrum L., folium monograph (2010, revision 1 2017) for the leaf's use in infusion.
Sun to partial shade
Rich, cool
Regular: needs soil that stays moist in summer
Very hardy (~-25 to -30 °C)
Overwinters in your zone
Self-fertile
One plant is enough for a crop
Role in permaculture
A perennial shrub for 15 years, with very nectar-bearing flowers in April (visited by bumblebees and bees). A 1.2-1.8 m shrub layer. To be planted in a group of 2-3 plants for good pollination (even self-fertile, a mix of varieties increases production). Prefer the cool partial shade of the north, suffers from drought.
Good companions
Aromatic: scent said to confuse pests
Traditional companion planting (benefit not demonstrated)
Poor companions
Alternate hosts of a disease (e.g. rust)
Insects attracted or useful
Known pests & diseases
Pests and diseases that commonly affect this plant, tap to learn how to recognise and manage them.
Seasons & availability
Blackcurrants: a short summer season, June to August.
Available: June, July, August.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- RHS, « How to Grow Blackcurrants » (rhs.org.uk/fruit/blackcurrants/grow-your-own)
- La Ferme de Sainte Marthe, « Réussir la culture du cassis » (fermedesaintemarthe.com/en/blogs/comment-reussir-la-culture-de/reussir-la-culture-du-cassis)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
The fresh fruit is well tolerated, with no known toxicity. The dried leaves are a distinct traditional use as a herbal tea, recognised by the EMA for minor joint pain; seed oil (GLA) is a concentrated product different from the fruit, for a medicinal use, ask a pharmacist for advice.
In the kitchen & the apothecary
Where to find blackcurrant in preparations: recipes and traditional herbal teas.
Family behaviour: Grossulariaceae
In general, Grossulariaceae bring together the small soft-fruit shrubs of the genus Ribes (redcurrant, blackcurrant, gooseberry). Shallow-rooted, they like part shade and a cool, well-mulched soil, which makes them good companions under taller fruit trees.
Understanding families means learning one rule per family rather than every pairing one by one. Learn more →
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Common varieties
Voices of peoples
Paraphrases attributed to their documented sources. Never an invented quote.
The abbé Pierre Bailly de Montaran, French cleric (attribution given as near-certain by booksellers' notes, without absolute certainty) · France, first half of the 18th century
The medicinal reputation of blackcurrant in France owes much to a cleric, the abbé Pierre Bailly de Montaran, to whom a pamphlet published in 1724 is attributed, 'Les propriétés admirables du cassis', extended from 1747 by the 'Traité du cassis, contenant ses vertus & qualité, sa culture, sa composition, son usage et les effets merveilleux qu'il produit'. The author praised blackcurrant there as 'a most excellent Elixir of life that maintains health'. What is attested is the publishing success: reprinted several times, the work made blackcurrant a near-panacea in the eyes of 18th-century French people, against migraines, fevers, and rheumatism, and helped launch its cultivation. This is a fact of cultural history, a form of advertising before its time, and not proof of efficacy.
P. Bailly de Montaran (attribution), « Les propriétés admirables du cassis » (brochure, 1724), puis « Traité du cassis » (rééditions à partir de 1747) ; Wikipédia, article « Cassis (fruit) ».
An attested fact of cultural history, not a health claim: the 18th-century fervour for blackcurrant belongs to a publishing vogue and not to a pharmacological demonstration, and nothing here amounts to a medicinal recommendation. The attribution of the anonymous pamphlet to the abbé Bailly de Montaran is given as near-certain but remains a 'perhaps' for some booksellers. The exact date varies with the sources (1712, 1724, Traité from 1747): hence 'first half of the 18th century' rather than a falsely precise date.