'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant Bush
The nation's favourite
Grown by Mike
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Choose your size
Out of stock
Currently out of stock
Currently out of stock
Plant diary
- Flower
- Harvest
'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant Bush
- 'Ben Hope' is the most widely-grown blackberry cultivar in the UK, and was first bred by the Scottish Crops Research Institute (who also bred varieties like 'Ben Connan' and 'Ben Alder') back in the 1980s, so it's fair to say this variety has pedigree!
- A heavy cropping variety, 'Ben Hope' yields bunches of blackcurrants with exceptional flavour (with each berry typically weighing over 1g) throughout the latter parts of summer
- Like some of the other Ben blackcurrant varieties, 'Ben Hope' displays great pest and disease resistance, particularly to gall mites, powdery mildew and leaf spot
- If you're able to stop yourself from eating all the blackcurrants straight off the bush - and no judgment if you can't - then make yourself a batch of homemade cordial or rustle up a latticework blackcurrant pie
- The blackcurrant plant, Ribes nigrum, has been certified by the Royal Horticultural Society as one of its Plants for Pollinators, proving beneficial to bees in particular
What to expect
Supplied as
Height on arrival
Eventual height
Eventual spread
Tasting notes
Time to first crop
Flower colour
Habit
Hardiness
Self fertile
Uses
Spacing
Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
Yes, 'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant is well-suited for container growing; use a pot of at least 30 to 40 cm in diameter with a soil-based compost.
How big does it get?
The 'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant Bush generally reaches a mature height and spread of approximately 1.5 metres.
How much sunlight does this need?
The 'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant Bush grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, though yields are highest with more sunlight.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
The 'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant Bush prefers fertile, moisture-retentive, well-draining soil, and benefits from being planted 5 cm deeper than it was in its pot.
How much watering does this plant need?
The 'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant Bush needs about 2.5 to 5 centimetres of water per week, keeping the soil consistently moist particularly when the fruit is swelling.
Will this plant need pruning?
Yes, the 'Ben Hope' Blackcurrant Bush should be pruned in winter to remove older wood and encourage new growth for better yields.
How hardy is this plant?
The 'Ben Hope' blackcurrant is exceptionally tough and fully hardy (RHS H6), easily withstanding temperatures down to -20°C. It is well-suited to all UK regions, including colder northern areas and Scotland, where it will reliably survive severe winters without additional protection.
The wider garden
Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery
Meet Mike
Fruit plants grown with love (and serious knowhow!)
Mike’s our guy when it comes to growing soft fruits. He’s our grape guru. Our gooseberry genius. Our blueberry boffin. What Mike doesn’t know about soft fruits? Well, it simply isn’t worth knowing. Having traversed the world from Australia to Northern Ireland – and even undertaking a horticultural stint in Sweden – Mike combines his enthusiasm, technical expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and favourable climatic conditions of the Cotswolds to grow only the very juiciest, sweetest soft fruits.
What customers say about us
We do our best to provide you the best experience ever
Learn from our experts
For growing advice that's clear and easy to follow
What customers say about us
We do our best to provide you the best experience ever
Fighting plastic waste
Delivering fresh from the nursery
Supporting UK growers