{"product_id":"consort-currant","title":"Consort Currant","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Hardy, Rust-Resistant Black Currant Loaded with Berries\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsort Black Currant (\u003cem\u003eRibes nigrum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Consort') is a tough, productive fruiting shrub that hangs heavy with clusters of tart, aromatic black berries — perfect for jam, juice, syrup, and baking. It's self-fertile, cold-hardy, and importantly resistant to white pine blister rust, the disease that historically restricted currant planting. It even fruits in part shade. Whether you're starting an edible hedge in Edina, filling a part-shade corner in Maple Grove, or adding a low-care fruit shrub in Woodbury — Consort is a dependable producer for zone 4b–5a (and colder) gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eConsort Currant Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"mce-item-table\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eRibes nigrum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Consort'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous fruiting shrub (black currant)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Height\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMature Width\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSun\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun to part shade — fruits even in partial shade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate — 1 inch per week; keep evenly moist for best fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable, prefers rich, well-draining soil; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam amended with compost\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePollination\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelf-fertile — a single plant will fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDisease Resistance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eResistant to white pine blister rust — a key trait for Minnesota plantings\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMid-summer; tart berries for jam, juice, syrup, and baking\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to zone 3\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eConsort Currant Uses in Minnesota Gardens\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eEdible hedge\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant a row 4–5 feet apart for a productive, informal edible hedge along a property line in Plymouth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePart-shade fruit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the few fruiting shrubs that produces in part shade, Consort is ideal for a north-facing or lightly shaded bed in Eden Prairie where blueberries or raspberries would struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eJam and juice garden\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack currants are richly aromatic and high in vitamin C — a must for home preservers making jam, juice, and cordials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Consort Currant in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring (late April–May) and early fall (late August–September) are both excellent. Avoid summer heat, and never plant after mid-October — frost-heaving kills new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Consort Currant\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container (or set bare-root plants slightly deeper to encourage new canes).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; firm gently and water in well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpace plants 4–5 feet apart for a hedge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a shallow water basin the first season, then flatten it before winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch 3–4 inches with shredded bark or straw to keep roots cool and moist, kept off the stems.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrune in late winter, removing oldest canes (3+ years) to keep the bush vigorous; currants fruit best on 1–3 year old wood.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Consort Currant in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 2–3 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 4–5 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Weekly; keep evenly moist for good fruit set\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWater during dry spells, especially while berries are sizing up. Currants have shallow roots and appreciate steady moisture and a cool, mulched root zone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it legal to plant currants in Minnesota?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRust-resistant black currants like Consort are the right choice here — Consort is immune to white pine blister rust, the disease behind historic currant restrictions. Always choose resistant varieties near white pines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I need two plants for fruit?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — Consort is self-fertile and will fruit on its own, though more plants mean a bigger harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — hardy to zone 3, well below Twin Cities lows. No special protection needed once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmerican Hazelnut — a hardy native nut shrub for edible hedges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeritage Raspberry — easy everbearing fruit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJersey Knight Asparagus — a perennial vegetable for the food garden\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54312911798577,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/consort-currant.jpg?v=1779557843","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/consort-currant","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}