Redcurrant Versaillaise Redcurrant bush - Ribes rubrum

The Versaillaise Rouge Redcurrant Bush is a vigorous variety that is resistant to cold temperatures. In July, the bush produces short clusters of redcurrants with fragrant flesh and a sweet flavour with a slight hint of acidity. Its late flowering occurs after the last frost, allowing for fruit harvest even in cold regions. These small fruits are rich in pectin, making them ideal for making delicious jellies. It is a disease-resistant variety. 

Redcurrants, Ribes rubrum, belong to the Grossulariaceae family, like the Gooseberry. Its origins in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and the Andes Mountains give the Redcurrant Bush excellent hardiness. It has been cultivated for a long time. It is a bushy, non-thorny shrub with a clump-like habit of slightly stiff, sparsely branched stems, and its wood is soft and has abundant pith. This bush reaches about 1.30 m (4ft) in all directions. The foliage is deciduous (absent in winter), composed of palmate, lobed, and aromatic leaves with a medium green colour. Flowering occurs in spring in the form of clusters of small, insignificant greenish to brownish flowers that are intensely visited by bees. Fruit production mainly occurs on one- and two-year-old branches. The bush is then covered with numerous clusters of small, round, translucent berries containing small seeds. In July, the harvesting is staggered as the fruits ripen. A Redcurrant Bush produces about 2 to 4 kg of fruit per plant depending on the age and growing conditions of the plant.

All varieties of redcurrants are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals, trace elements, as well as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Additionally, redcurrants are among the least calorific small fruits (50 kcal per 100 g). When picked fresh from the bush, they are exquisite to enjoy, and for added indulgence, they can be sprinkled with a little crystallised sugar. They are excellent in jellies or jams and can also be used to garnish pies and make cakes. They are perfect for making sorbets or ice creams and can be served alongside red meats or added as a touch to mixed salads.

In the garden, the Redcurrant Bush fits perfectly alongside other varieties of berries that only enhance its multiple culinary benefits. It can be grown in a pot, but be sure to choose a container that is at least 40 cm (16in) tall and to regularly water it with preferably non-limestone water.